Sheffield Wednesday will welcome Hull City to Hillsborough on Saturday for an important game at both ends of the Championship table.
The hosts narrowed their gap to the playoff places to five points at the weekend despite only drawing away from home, while their visitors now sit just one point above the relegation zone following a defeat on Saturday.
Match preview
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Sheffield Wednesday head into the weekend aiming to ramp up their pursuit of the Championship playoff places in the final run-in, having gained ground in an underwhelming draw at the weekend.
The Owls headed into the final international break of the season in 12th spot in England's second tier on 51 points, six behind sixth spot with eight games remaining, having lost six of their previous eight outings culminating in a 1-0 home defeat to rivals Sheffield United in mid-March.
That continued a poor run of home form for Danny Rohl's side, who have now picked up just three points from their last six attempts at Hillsborough, remaining winless in that time since New Year's Day, while only Saturday's visitors have picked up fewer than the 22 points they have managed in 19 games on home turf.
On their return from the recent break, the Owls visited relegation-threatened Cardiff City on Saturday, and they were unable to gain any real ground in the top-six fight, leaving with a share of the spoils from a 1-1 draw having pulled level through Michael Ihiekwe after Isaak Davies's opener for the hosts.
Still having moved a point closer to the final playoff spot thanks to results elsewhere, Sheffield Wednesday now find themselves 12th and five points behind sixth-placed West Bromwich Albion with seven games remaining, and they will hope to narrow that gap further with a much-needed home win to end their rut at Hillsborough on Saturday.
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Their visitors, meanwhile, make the trip across Yorkshire desperate for three points of their own in their battle at the bottom end of the division.
In their bid to preserve their second-tier status again this term, Hull City have endured a tricky campaign and possess the only home record worse than that of Sheffield Wednesday, albeit currently sitting above the drop zone thanks to their impressive record on the road.
Of the 41 points that the Tigers have collected in 39 league outings, 22 have come from 19 away trips, having won four of their last eight outings on the road and only lost two, most recently drawing 1-1 with playoff-chasers Bristol City and West Bromwich Albion before the international break.
Then returning to action in 19th spot with only a slender lead over the bottom three, Ruben Selles's side hosted 23rd-placed Luton Town on Saturday and suffered a harmful 1-0 defeat, as an Alfie Jones own goal at the beginning of the second half made the only difference.
Now sitting 21st and only three points above Luton and one above 22nd-placed Cardiff City with seven games left to play, Hull City head to Hillsborough on Saturday needing a victory to boost their Championship survival hopes and rebuild a cushion over the drop zone.
Team News
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Sheffield Wednesday continue to contend with several injury issues, as defenders Di'Shon Bernard, Max Lowe and Yan Valery and midfielder Stuart Armstrong will remain sidelined, although Akin Famewo was fit to feature off the bench at the weekend after a lengthy layoff.
Young goalkeeper Pierce Charles was handed a league debut ahead of James Beadle for the meeting with Cardiff City and should keep his place between the sticks, while his brother and fellow Northern Ireland international Shea Charles should return from the outset in midfield in place of Nathaniel Chalobah.
The Southampton loanee will likely rejoin captain Barry Bannan in the engine room, while Michael Smith could displace Jamal Lowe and lead the attack from the start with support from Djeidi Gassama, Callum Paterson and Josh Windass, who leads the squad with 11 goals this season.
Hull City are hit by several injuries of their own, with midfielder Eliot Matazo and wingers Liam Millar, Mohamed Belloumi and Louie Barry still confined to the treatment room, while Oscar Zambrano continues a lengthy ban.
January arrival Matt Crooks will hope to return to the attacking unit from the start and could join Abu Kamara and Kyle Joseph in support of striker Joe Gelhardt, who has managed three goals since his loan switch from Leeds United in January, while Joao Pedro will also compete to lead the line after completing his three-match suspension last time out.
Elsewhere, Steven Alzate and Gustavo Puerta will hope to keep their spots in midfield, despite competition from Lincoln and Regan Slater, while Alfie Jones and Charlie Hughes are bound to continue at the heart of a back four despite the latter's decisive own goal last time out.
Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup:
P Charles; Valentin, Iorfa, Ihiekwe, Hatsuse; S Charles, Bannan; Paterson, Windass, Gassama; Smith
Hull City possible starting lineup:
Pandur; Coyle, Jones, Hughes, McLoughlin; Alzate, Puerta; Kamara, Crooks, Joseph; Gelhardt
We say: Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 Hull City
Saturday's contest promises to be a hard-fought one between two sides desperate for three points, and we back Sheffield Wednesday to end their poor run of form at Hillsborough and come out on top with the chance to move within touching distance of the playoffs.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Sam Varley
