Sheffield Wednesday went into Christmas on the back of a dispiriting 4-0 defeat at Fulham and only a victory against rock-bottom Blackpool on Boxing Day will lift the mood of the home fans who have had little to cheer at Hillsborough this season.
Wednesday are sweating on the fitness of captain Glenn Loovens. The centre-back picked up a hamstring injury in the game at Fulham and faces a fitness test. With Kamil Zayatte and Lewis Buxton not yet ready to return from injury Claude Dielna is the likely replacement should Loovens not make it.
Stuart Gray somewhat surprisingly dropped both Atdhe Nuhiu and Royston Drenthe to the bench last weekend, adopting a more cautious approach which clearly didn't pay off. Both will be hoping for a recall for the starting line up against the Tangerines.
Blackpool are expected to be without former Barnsley midfielder Jacob Mellis who is not yet ready to make a return from a hamstring injury. Ex-Sheffield United defender Nyron Nosworthy is struggling with a groin injury and is 50/50 to feature.
Former Wednesday loan player Chris Eagles is expected to line up against the Owls but another former Wednesday player is less likely to be involved. Blackpool manager Lee Clark has revealed that striker Nile Ranger has been AWOL from the club for the past two weeks.
Wednesday's dire home form has seen them record just two wins from 11 league games at Hillsborough this season while Blackpool are without a league away win this season, picking up 5 points from their 11 games on the road though they have drawn 3 of their last 4 away games.
The Owls recorded a 2-0 home win against Blackpool when the two sides met last back in January.