Derby County will look to keep hold of their spot in the top six of the League One table on the final day of the regular season on Saturday, when they travel to Hillsborough to take on Sheffield Wednesday.
The Rams currently sit sixth with a two-point lead over Peterborough United, while their hosts are guaranteed a third-placed finish and a playoff semi-final tie with whichever side finishes in sixth place.
Match preview
Sheffield Wednesday head into the final game of the regular League One season having had to switch their focus to the upcoming playoffs, after dropping out of the top two in the last month.
Thanks to a 23-game league unbeaten run which produced 55 points between early October and mid-March, the Owls looked to be cruising towards automatic promotion back to the Championship, but they would then hit a tough run towards the back end of the campaign, with the streak initially halted by a 4-2 defeat away at local rivals Barnsley.
That was followed by a disappointing 1-0 loss away at basement side Forest Green Rovers and consecutive draws with Cheltenham Town, Lincoln City and Oxford United across late March and early April, seeing the Owls drop behind Plymouth Argyle and Ipswich Town as a result.
Although they have since managed to win four of their last five outings in England's third tier, strong runs from their two promotion-chasing rivals left Darren Moore's side in third spot, and they headed into last weekend's trip to Shrewsbury Town needing a victory and for both of the top two to fail to win to keep their hopes of a top-two finish alive.
The Owls would come out on top, as Michael Smith netted all three goals in a 3-0 victory, but with both Ipswich and Plymouth prevailing in their games, Sheffield Wednesday saw themselves confined to third place and will now aim to make it four league wins in a row to build some momentum ahead of a second straight playoff campaign, with Saturday's round of games deciding their semi-final opponents.
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Indeed, the visitors will be vying to be the side who meet Saturday's hosts once again in the playoffs, with Derby County sat sixth heading into the final day.
After putting themselves in pole position for a top-six place in the early months of the new year, Paul Warne's side quickly saw their playoff hopes take a hit as they suffered three consecutive 2-0 defeats at the hands of Fleetwood Town, Peterborough United and Ipswich Town between late March and early April, and they had to wait to climb back in with a victory over Forest Green Rovers then followed by somewhat underwhelming 1-1 draws with MK Dons and Bristol Rovers.
Then sitting seventh with just a narrow gap up to Peterborough United, the Rams would make a crucial return to winning ways away at Exeter City, as David McGoldrick netted a second-half brace in a 2-1 triumph, before they leapfrogged the Posh and regained sixth spot with a 1-0 victory at home to Burton Albion, with McGoldrick again netting the decisive goal from the penalty spot around the hour mark.
Such a result left Derby two points clear of Peterborough heading into the final two matches, and while the chasing side only managed to draw at home to Bristol Rovers last weekend, they were unable to seal the top-six finish, instead earning a point of their own as James Collins tied their home contest against Portsmouth at a goal apiece in the 71st minute after Colby Bishop's first-half opener.
While they may be disappointed not to have sealed their playoff place last weekend, the Rams do still occupy a strong position with two more points and a better goal difference than that of Peterborough, while only sitting two points behind fifth-placed Bolton Wanderers, meaning that a victory at Hillsborough would guarantee a top-six finish and would likely set up a semi-final tie with the Owls.
Team News
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With third place guaranteed in League One, Darren Moore may opt to make some rotations to his Sheffield Wednesday side on Saturday to ensure they remain fresh for the playoffs, with the likes of Tyreeq Bakinson and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru being candidates to come in from the outset having seen opportunities limited recently.
Michael Ihiekwe has returned from a long-term injury layoff and was fit to start in the middle of a back three last time out, and he should again start as his recovery continues, affording further resting time for Aden Flint, who has been a key man at the back since his loan arrival from Stoke City.
Michael Smith will hope to keep his place up front after taking his tally to 15 league goals for the season with the victory last time out, while Moore will choose between Callum Paterson, Lee Gregory and Josh Windass for the other spots with Mallik Wilks out of action through injury, as is key midfielder George Byers.
Still needing a victory to guarantee their playoff place, Derby County could again travel to Hillsborough with an unchanged starting XI, although James Collins is hoping to come into the front line from the start after netting their equaliser off the bench last weekend.
The line will be led by David McGoldrick, who has been their star man since arriving in the summer, having contributed 22 goals and six assists in 38 League One appearances this term.
Fellow summer arrival Conor Hourihane should again be joined by Max Bird in midfield, while Craig Forsyth, Curtis Davies and Eiran Cashin could form an unchanged back three in front of former Owls goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith.
Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup:
Dawson; Iorfa, Ihiekwe, Brown; Adeniran, Dele-Bashiru, Bakinson, Bannan, Johnson; Paterson, Smith
Derby County possible starting lineup:
Wildsmith; Cashin, Davies, Forsyth; Knight, Bird, Hourihane, Roberts; Sibley, McGoldrick, Mendez-Laing
We say: Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Derby County
Derby County certainly have more to fight for than their hosts on the final day, but in a tough trip to Hillsborough, we do not anticipate them taking all three points and instead predict a share of the spoils in South Yorkshire.
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Top tip
Sam Varley
