Preview: Preston North End vs. Hull City - prediction, team news, lineups

Preston North End will be looking to consolidate their spot in the playoff positions in the Championship table when they welcome Hull City to Deepdale on Saturday afternoon.

Alex Neil's side are currently sixth in the Championship table with 53 points, while an out-of-form Hull occupy 17th position, 10 points clear of the relegation zone with 13 games left.

Match preview

Preston have never played in the Premier League, but there is no question that they are a team to be taken seriously when it comes to the race for promotion from the Championship this season.

A record of 15 wins, eight draws and 10 defeats from 33 matches has brought them 53 points, which is good enough for sixth position heading into the next set of Championship fixtures.

The Lilywhites are actually only three points off third-placed Fulham as things stand, while they sit six behind second-placed Leeds United, who have picked up four points from their last two matches.

These are the type of matches that Preston have to win if they are to stay in and around the playoffs, but they will enter the game off the back of a 1-0 home defeat to Millwall last weekend.

O'Neil's side have largely been impressive in recent weeks, though, winning four of their last six.

Preston might be in the better form heading into the contest, but Hull recorded a 4-0 victory when the two teams locked horns in the reverse match at the KCOM Stadium in November.

The Tigers have not won in the Championship since New Year's Day, though, losing five of their seven since then, including defeats to Derby County and Blackburn Rovers on their travels.

Grant McCann's side were involved in an incredible 4-4 draw at home to Swansea City last weekend, but their winless form has seen them slide down the table in 2020.

Indeed, 41 points from 33 matches leaves them 17th in the division as things stand; they are 10 points clear of the relegation zone, though, and have credit in the bank due to their decent form in the first half of the season.

The Tigers have managed to win a third of their league games this term, which is hardly disastrous form, although the January exits of Kamil Grosicki and Jarrod Bowen have taken away a lot of quality.

Preston Championship form: WWDWWL

Hull Championship form: LLLDLD Hull form (all competitions): LLLDLD

Team News

Preston will be without the services of Tom Bayliss, Billy Bodin, Darnell Fisher and Louis Moult for this weekend's contest, but O'Neil has no fresh injury concerns from the defeat to Millwall.

David Nugent is again expected to lead the line for the home side with support from Tom Barkhuizen, while Scott Sinclair should also keep his spot in the attack as he looks for his second Championship goal.

Paul Gallagher, though, is pushing for a start having started on the bench against the Lions.

As for Hull, Jordy de Wijs, Reece Burke and Jon Toral have all been declared fit for Saturday's clash.

Martin Samuelsen, Eric Lichaj, James Scott and Keane Lewis-Potter are still out, but the club's injury crisis is easing with Matthew Pennington and Ryan Tafazolli returning last time out.

Marcus Maddison should also shake off a sickness bug to feature, while Mallik Wilks's strike against Swansea last time out should see the 21-year-old keep his spot in the final third.

Preston possible starting lineup: Rudd; Clarke, Bauer, Davies, Hughes; Browne, Pearson; Sinclair, Johnson, Barkuizen; Nugent

Hull possible starting lineup: Long; Pennington, Burke, De Wijs, Elder; Batty, Lopes; Wilks, Maddison, Irvine; Magennis

We say: Preston 2-1 Hull

Hull's injury problems are starting to ease at a key stage of the season, but it is a big ask to expect the Tigers to upset Preston at Deepdale. We are expecting a tight match in terms of the scoreline but fancy the home side to pick up three important points.