Preview: PNE v Owls

Wednesday's current run of matches doesn't get any easier on Tuesday night when Brian Laws takes his men to promotion chasing Preston North End.

The Owls will be keen to bounce back following consecutive defeats against Reading and Wolves, but with mid-table mediocrity looking the likeliest option this season, Brian Laws could well find his toughest task is to motivate his men for the trip to Lancashire.

North End have received a blow with the news defender Callum Davidson is set to miss their next two matches, including the game with the Owls, with a hamstring problem.

Davidson has been a key cog in PNE's promotion hopes and his miss will be big, but the Lilywhites did have good news with Youl Mawene available again for selection.

Richard Chaplow and Simon Whaley will both undergo late fitness tests for the Deepdale club after Chaplow missed out in their weekend fixture and Whaley came on as a sub.

Jones is a bit of an unsung hero for those outside Preston, but has been influential in trying to get North End into the play-off spots this term.

Wednesday will be missing the services of striker Leon Clarke after the striker picked up an injury in the 1-0 defeat to Wolves at the weekend.

Clarke is likely to be replaced by Francis Jeffers, with Akpo Sodje still likely to only feature as a substitute after recovering from an injury of his own.

Brian Laws is likely to bring defender Mark Beevers into the team at the expense of Richard Hinds, after the youngster was rested at the weekend.

Frank Simek will also be pushing for an outing, as will youngster Luke Boden after Laws promised to make some changes to his side.

Hopefully JJ's finishing will be a bit better at Deepdale than it was at Hillsborough on Saturday. He still remains the Owls' biggest threat going forward.

Head-to-Head:

Wednesday wins: 37

NE wins: 39

raws: 21

Last Time Out:

Wednesday 1-1 Preston

Hillsborough, 23/08/08

Wednesday's impressive start to the season, especially on home soil, came to an end as PNE held the Owls in August. Sean McAllister gave Wednesday a 20th minute lead before Chaplow's second half leveller.

Previous Line-Ups:

PNE: Lonergan, Nolan, Davies, St. Ledger, Davidson, Nicholson (Whaley 71), Carter, Jones, Wallace, Brown (Mellor 56), Elliott (Hawley 81). Subs Not Used: Neal, Sedgwick.

Wednesday: Grant, Buxton, Hinds, Wood, Spurr, Johnson, O'Connor (Boden 87), McAllister, Gray (Sodje 69), Clarke (Jeffers 46), Tudgay. Subs Not Used: Beevers, Simek.

v Watford (A) - 14/03/09

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