For both Sheffield Wednesday and Watford, a top-half finish will be the aim for the final stretch of this season, and Saturday's match between the two teams at Hillsborough could prove to be a pivotal moment in that race.

Such lofty aspirations were unthinkable for Wednesday towards the tail end of last year, when they appeared to be gearing themselves up for a long and arduous relegation battle.

However, under Stuart Gray the Owls have flown up the table and now sit 13th, just one point behind Watford and a place in the top half.

Three wins in their last four outings have continued the steady flow of points coming into the club, although if there is a negative to iron out it is that they tend to drop points against sides they should be beating.

Doncaster Rovers, Yeovil Town and Charlton Athletic have all beaten Wednesday in the space of little over a month - although such defeats are nowhere as costly as the club may have feared earlier in the season.

The Owls come into this match having won their last four games at Hillsborough, conceding just one goal in the process. Only high flyers Wigan Athletic and Derby County have beaten Wednesday in their own back yard in the league since the turn of the year, a 10-game spell that has yielded six clean sheets.

Gray has no new injury concerns to worry about and is likely to stick with Leon Best up front following his 90th-minute winner against Brighton & Hove Albion on Tuesday, meaning that Atdhe Nuhiu may have to settle for a place on the bench again.

While Wednesday were once in a relegation battle and have climbed up the table, Watford began the campaign with playoff aspirations but have now been forced to settle for a midtable finish.

The Hornets have a game in hand that could see them rise up to 10th as the table stands at the moment, but a push for the top six is now surely beyond their reach with a 10-point gap separating them from Reading.

Giuseppe Sannino's side saw three points stolen from their grasp on Tuesday as Blackburn Rovers scored a 93rd-minute equaliser to rescue a point at Vicarage Road, adding to a run of inconsistent results for Watford.

The Italian manager will be looking forward to preparing his side for next season now, and high up on his list of priorities must be improving his side's away record.

They have lost their last three games on the road and are without a win in 14 in all competitions, last picking up maximum points away from home back at the start of October.

The visitors have Mathias Ranegie back available from suspension but he could be left on the bench, while Fernando Forestieri is definitely unavailable due to injury.

Recent form

Sheff Weds: LLWWLW

Watford: LWLWLD

Possible starting lineups

Sheff Weds: Kirkland; Buxton, Onyewu, Loovens, Mattock; Maguire, Coke, Lee, Palmer, Helan; Best

Watford: Almunia; Doyley, Cassetti, Ekstrand; Faraoni, McGugan, Battochio, Tozser, Pudil; Deeney, Anya

Sports Mole says: 2-0

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