Preview: Owls v PNE

Wednesday will be looking to make it back-to-back home wins when Alan Irvine brings his high-flying Preston side to Hillsborough on Tuesday night.

The Owls will be looking to continue the form which saw them defeat Coventry on Saturday and continue their climb up the table against a Preston side who were demolished 4-0 at Q.P.R at the weekend.

But, a couple of below-bar performances aside, the Deepdale club have been living up to the pre-season billing of getting into the top six yet against under the guidance of their Scottish manager.

Mark Beevers told the official SWFC website:

'Our confidence will obviously be high for the Preston match. The lads worked hard against Coventry and I think we deserved to come out on top.

'As a back five, I think we were solid as a unit but the same went for all over the pitch. The guys in midfield and up front looked good all throughout the match, now we need to show more of the same against Preston.'

Boss Alan Irvine spoke of his desire to get key players back to the official Preston website:

'It is important for us to get all of our players back. Callum is a very important player to us and is important as a player himself and he is a very valuable member of our team.

'He is obviously a very influential character as well and that is why he is captain of the Club. He can have a limited amount of influence in the dressing room when he is not playing but he obviously has a greater one when he is in the dressing room and in the team. So we'll be delighted to get him back.'

Wednesday boss Brian Laws has to take into account a quick turnaround of matches, with a trip to Watford coming hot-on-the-heels on Friday night.

But he could well opt for the same eleven that defeated Coventry at the weekend as he looks for back-to-back wins on home soil.

Marcus Tudgay could well be pushing for a starting role after sitting out Saturday's victory with a neck injury, but Laws could well give his key striker time to fully recover, with Luke Varney and Leon Clarke likely to continue in attack.

Etienne Esajas will also be pushing for a recall, as could defender Richard Wood, but the duo could both be kept out of the side by Jermaine Johnson and Mark Beevers respectively, who both enjoyed good performances at the weekend.

Wednesday have no fresh injury concerns going into the game.

We've decided to back up our praise for O'Connor this week by selecting him as our home player to watch for Tuesday night. He'll be key, no doubt, again against his former foes, and Wednesday will need to come out on top in the midfield battle if they're to get any points.

North End leaked four goals at Loftus Road at the weekend and boss Irvine has spoke of his desire to get key players such as Callum Davidson back in his starting eleven.

Davidson has been out with a hamstring injury since August but could well return after pledging his fitness.

Irvine could well ring the changes in some departments following Saturday's poor showing, with Paul Parry and Darren Carter both pushing for starts.

Sheffield-born Mellor would like nothing better than bagging a winning goal at Hillsborough, and the Wednesday defence will have to be on the top of their game to keep the former Liverpool man out.

Head-to-Head:

Wednesday wins: 37

PNE wins: 39

Draws: 22

Last Time Out:

PNE 1-1 Wednesday

Deepdale, 10/03/09

Wednesday looked set for all three points at Deepdale thanks to Francis Jeffers' strike on the half hour, but Jon Parkin rescued a late, late point for the hosts.

v Watford (A) - 23/10/09

v Bristol City (A) - 31/10/09

Vital F1 Prediction League - Join now for the British GP

Seconds Out! Vital Boxing is here!