Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield Town will be looking in opposite directions when they meet in a Yorkshire derby in the Championship this weekend.
Just six places separate the two teams, but 12th-placed Wednesday can still make the playoffs, while Huddersfield are just nine points clear of the relegation zone ahead of their visit to Hillsborough.
Sheffield Wednesday
© Getty Images
The Owls have been one of the stronger sides in the Championship in the last couple of months, with four wins from their last seven outings, including a dramatic 3-2 win over another of their Yorkshire rivals, Rotherham United, just before the international break.
Stuart Gray's side have been impressive in front of goal during that run, scoring 11 goals, but they have also managed just two clean sheets, which left them needing two injury-time goals to clinch the win over the Millers last time out.
Over the course of the season though, Wednesday have been strong in defence, with only Middlesbrough conceding fewer goals and recording more clean sheets so far this campaign.
Wednesday would need to continue and improve their recent form if they are to make the playoffs, as they are currently 14 points adrift of sixth-placed Ipswich Town with just seven matches remaining.
Playing at home could actually be a hindrance for the Owls, as they have claimed just four of their 13 league wins at Hillsborough, while recording a league-high nine home draws so far.
Their last home win came against promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough in February, and the 2-0 victory is their only home win in 2015.
Gray has insisted that he wants his side to finish as high up the table as possible, and has set a target of 60 points by the end of the campaign, which means they need to pick up a point a game in their last seven outings.
Recent form: WLWDLW
Huddersfield Town
© Getty Images
Eighteenth-placed Huddersfield know that a win would go a long way to ending any lingering fears of relegation, with the Terriers sitting just nine points above 22nd-placed Wigan Athletic, but Chris Powell's side are without a win in six.
Huddersfield's last victory was a 3-0 success over Reading back in February, while they have lost four and drawn twice since then, including a 2-0 defeat to Fulham last time out.
The team's biggest problem in their recent slump has been scoring, as the Terriers have scored just four goals in their last six matches, while red cards in a defeat to Rotherham and a draw with Norwich City have not helped matters.
In their loss to Fulham, Powell's side twice had chances from the penalty spot, but both spot kicks were missed by Nakhi Wells, costing his side the opportunity to pick up a point.
Huddersfield also have one of the worst defensive records in the league, letting in 67 goals so far this season and keeping just seven clean sheets, leaving only Fulham and Blackpool below them in the defensive stats table.
An away match would not be the manager's first choice as his side look to end their winless run, as they have picked up just four victories away from the John Smith's Stadium so far, with 10 of their 19 matches away from home ending in defeat.
After this match, Huddersfield have a tricky run in their final six fixtures, as they will face four teams currently in the top 10 and fighting for places in the playoffs.
Recent form: LLLDDL
Team News
© Getty Images
The visitors will be without Harry Bunn again as the club's second-highest scorer will be sidelined for a third match in a row as he continues to battle a hamstring injury.
Midfielder Jonathan Hogg is also struggling with a hamstring injury, but Powell is optimistic that he will be able to pass a fitness test and feature at Hillborough.
In brighter news for the Terriers, defender Tommy Smith and forward Ishmael Miller have both been training this week despite picking up knocks in the team's defeat to Fulham last time out.
Meanwhile, Will Keane and Jeremy Helan will both need late fitness tests for the home side after suffering a swollen ankle and groin injury respectively.
Gray has confirmed that all of his players that were in action with their national sides during the international break have returned without injury, so there are no new injury concerns for the Owls.
However, Jacques Maghoma played a full 90 minutes for the Congo DR on Monday before returning to the UK, so could be a candidate for being rested.
Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup:
Westwood, Vermijl, Lees, Dielna, Mattock, Lavery, Lee, Hutchinson, Helan, McGugan, Nuhiu
Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup:
Smithies, Edgar, Hudson, Smith, Lynch, Hogg, Scannell, Butterfield, Coady, Miller, Wells
Head To Head
When these two sides met at the John Smith's Stadium earlier in the season, the teams played to a goalless draw.
The Yorkshire rivals have been well matched in the last couple of years, with both teams picking up an away win last season, while the match before that ended in another goalless stalemate.
This will be the 42nd league meeting between these two clubs, and Huddersfield have dominated the head to head, picking up 21 wins compared to just 10 for the Owls.
Video Preview
Hit play below to see what the Sports Mole Sofa had to say about this encounter:
We say: Sheffield Wednesday 0-0 Huddersfield Town
Realistically, Huddersfield should be able to avoid relegation, while it is unlikely that Wednesday will close the gap to the playoff places. There is not much for either side to play for, which makes a stalemate seem the most likely outcome.
Sian Cowper
