Two of League One’s likely promotion candidates and early pacesetters meet at Hillsborough on Saturday when Gus Poyet’s Brighton side travel north to face the Owls.
Despite a poor campaign last time out Brighton have been more optimistic about this season with Poyet starting his first full campaign at the helm having helped them to safety last season and they have started with an away win at last seasons play-off finalists Swindon and a draw at home to newly promoted Rochdale though they have been knocked out of the Carling Cup by Northampton.
Wednesday come into the game looking to continue their 100% home record having dispatched of Dagenham and Redbridge in the league and Bury in the League Cup so far at S6. Alan Irvine has no suspension problems to concern him and the Owls only have Jermaine Johnson on the treatment table after midfielder Tommy Miller returned to full training in the week. Miller may make the squad but is unlikely to start as few if any changes are expected to be made to the starting 11 that has kicked off both league games for Wednesday.
By contrast to the Owls the Seagulls will be without a number of first team players as a result of injury and suspension issues. Captain Gordon Greer starts a three-match ban this weekend and midfielder Matt Sparrow, who was influential in the opening day win at Swindon, scoring twice, is also suspended.
Peter Brezovan established himself as Brighton’s number one last season but he is likely to remain sidelined with a wrist injury, former Leeds goalkeeper Casper Ankergren was brought to the club just before the start of the season and will keep his place.
Combative midfielder Alan Navarro is expected to be sidelined for some time by a knee injury that requires an operation and young defender Lewis Dunk is carrying a foot injury.
The teams have not met since the 2005/06 season when a 2-0 away win for Wednesday in April helped to secure their Championship status. The Hillsborough fixture earlier that season ended in a 1-1 draw.
The Owls have only lost 3 of 21 competitive matches between the two sides and have not been defeated in 11 clashes on home soil against the Seagulls, winning five of these matches.