Sheffield Wednesday go into Saturday’s home fixture against Cardiff eager for three points having picked up just one point from a possible nine in their three previous matches.
Having conceded six goals in two matches Wednesday will be looking to improve their defensive displays which have yielded just one clean sheet in the league so far this season. Should Brian Laws wish to make changes to his back four Frank Simek is an option at right-back having played in the reserves victory over Sheffield United in midweek.
Captain Darren Purse is likely to keep his place to face his former club despite struggling for form of late.
In midfield Etienne Esajas sparked the Owls into life at Bramall Lane as a half-time substitute in place of Jermaine Johnson and could be rewarded with a starting place.
Up front Akpo Sodje, Leon Clarke and Francis Jeffers all made contributions for the reserves in midweek and will be pushing Luke Varney for a starting place alongside Marcus Tudgay.
The visitors travel to Hillsborough without the services of former Leeds United midfielder Stephen McPhail as he completes a 3-match suspension.
Striker Ross McCormack, fullback Kevin McNaughton and Man City loanee Kelvin Etuhu are set to miss out through injury.
Riccardo Scimeca made his first start of the season in the midweek League Cup defeat at Aston Villa and is in contention to keep his place. Goalkeeper David Marshall and top scorer Michael Chopra were on the bench at Villa Park and are expected to return to the first eleven.
Cardiff have won 2 lost 1 and drawn one away so far this season but have lost two games in a row having been defeated in the Carling Cup at Villa Park and lost 2-0 at home to QPR last weekend.
Wednesday will still be smarting from the Sheffield derby defeat last Friday and only picked up 1 point from the last 2 home games prior to that.
The Owls beat Cardiff 1-0 on the final day of last season thanks to a fine goal from Jermaine Johnson as the Welsh side blew their play-off chances.
Recent meetings between the two sides have usually led to a definitive result with Cardiff winning 4 and Wednesday 3 with just 1 draw in the last 8 encounters.