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Preview: Queens Park Rangers vs. Sheffield Wednesday

Sports Mole previews the Championship opener between Queens Park Rangers and Sheffield Wednesday at Loftus Road.

Queens Park Rangers begin their quest to return to the Premier League when they host Sheffield Wednesday in their Championship season opener on Saturday.

Harry Redknapp's side were relegated last season despite spending big to try to maintain their top-flight status, but several of their star names are unlikely to feature against Wednesday at Loftus Road.

Loic Remy, Julio Cesar and Joey Barton could all sit out as they await moves away from the club, but striker Charlie Austin is expected to make his Hoops debut after arriving in a £4m switch from Burnley.

Fellow summer arrivals Richard Dunne and Danny Simpson are in contention to start in defence, while former Wolverhampton Wanderers captain Karl Henry is in the squad but may have to settle for a place on the bench.

Owls boss David Jones could start versatile left-sided player Jeremy Helan, signed from Manchester City, and former Tottenham Hotspur youngster Jacques Maghoma.

However, the game may have come too early for ex-Hull City centre-back Kamil Zayatte, who completed his move to Hillsborough only on Friday.

The visitors finished 18th in the Championship last season, and retaining the services of top goalscorer Michail Antonio may have been Jones's best piece of summer business.

He is almost certain to start in midfield, but Lewis Buxton and Kieran Lee are unavailable with shin and hip injuries respectively.

Possible lineups:

QPR: Green; Simpson, Dunne, Hill, Traore; Wright-Phillips, Jenas, Mbia, Hoilett; Zamora, Austin

Wednesday: Kirkland; Reda Johnson, Gardner, Taylor, Llera; Antonio, Jermaine Johnson, Maghoma, Prutton, Helan; Madine

Sports Mole says: 2-0


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Sheffield Wednesday's Michail Antonio tries to get past Crystal Palace's Ashley Richards on February 23, 2013
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd20135228111742
2Leeds UnitedLeeds20125336142241
3Burnley2010822471738
4Sunderland20107329151437
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn1910452317634
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom2071122314932
7Middlesbrough209473425931
8Watford199462725231
9Swansea CitySwansea207672119227
10Norwich CityNorwich206863530526
11Bristol City206862525026
12Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds207582329-626
13Millwall196762017325
14Preston North EndPreston2041062026-622
15Luton TownLuton2064102335-1222
16Coventry CityCoventry205692529-421
17Derby CountyDerby205692226-421
18Stoke CityStoke205692126-521
19Queens Park RangersQPR204972026-621
20Oxford UnitedOxford Utd194692030-1018
21Portsmouth183872130-917
22Cardiff CityCardiff1945101730-1317
23Plymouth ArgylePlymouth1945101940-2117
24Hull City2037101828-1016


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