Rams Vs Owls: Team news & preview
Sheffield Wednesday make the short trip to Derby County on Saturday knowing that a rare win away to the Rams could improve their slim play-off chances but a defeat could all but end their hopes.
Wednesday are likely to be without Fernando Forestieiri who is struggling to gain full fitness following troublesome knee and hamstring injuries and fellow forward Lucas Joao is also injured. Gary Hooper is closing in on a long awaited return to action. The former Celtic striker featured for the Under 23 team on Friday but will need more time to get up to match speed. Sam Winnall could return to the squad at a ground where he enjoyed a productive loan spell last season which was cut short by a knee injury.
Derby have suffered an injury crisis of their own of late. Mason Mount, Craig Bryson, Andy King, Marcus Olsson, Curtis Davies and Craig Forsyth are all set to miss out but Tom Lawrence could return to the squad having been out for around a month due to an ankle injury.
The Owls have drawn more games than they would have liked recently but the 0-0 draw in the Sheffield derby on Monday evening extended their unbeaten run under Steve Bruce and they have only lost once in the Championship since mid-December.
Derby have been on a poor run of late but brought to an end a 3-match losing run un the league by coming from a goal down to beat Wigan 2-1 on Tuesday evening. Despite their recent dip in form they have only lost 1 of their last 8 home games.
Wednesday have failed to win on any of their last 10 visits to Derby dating back to 2006 and were beaten 2-1 by the Rams at Hillsborough back in November.