Preview: Preston North End vs. Sheffield United

Sheffield United travel to face Preston North End at Deepdale in the FA Cup this weekend where they will look to continue their impressive recent cup record.

The Blades may have been edged out 1-0 by Tottenham Hotspur in the first leg of their League Cup tie on Wednesday night, but Nigel Clough's charges have it all still to play for ahead of next week's return tie.

Before then attention switches to their meeting against League One rivals Preston, where they will be attempting to build on their 3-0 win against Queens Park Rangers in the last round.

That victory came as little surprise for United, who have made a habit of getting the better of top-flight opposition in recent times, although they come up against a more familiar foe on Saturday afternoon.

The two sides played out a 1-1 draw at the same venue earlier this campaign, although the Lilywhites have struggled with form in recent weeks and came unstuck in a 2-1 reverse less than a fortnight ago in their last meeting.

Despite the Yorkshire club's recent successes in this fixture, it is Preston who come into the game sitting higher in the League One standings, 11 points above their opponents.

Simon Grayson acknowledged that his side are lacking in confidence at the moment following a four-game winless run, yet a 2-0 triumph against Norwich City last time out in this competition could provide a perfect springboard to push on.

That said, the North End boss has openly admitted in the past that the league takes priority, so both managers may look to make minor changes when they face off in cup competition.

Preston North End:

Form in FA Cup: WWW Form in all competitions: DDLDWW

Possible starting lineup: Stuckmann, Woods, Wright, Huntington, Buchanan, King, Brownhill, Browne, Gallagher, Reid, Little

Sheffield United:

Form in FA Cup: DWWW Form in all competitions: LWLDDL

Possible starting lineup: Howard, Harris, McEveley, Kennedy, Alcock, Reed, Doyle, Muprhy, Baxter, Campbell-Ryce, McNulty

Sports Mole says: 1-1