Preview: Hull City v Owls

Wednesday will travel to the KC Stadium looking to bag their first points of 2013 but will face a Tigers side pushing for promotion from the Championship this season.

Dave Jones's men could not face much of a tougher proposition as they aim to pull themselves out of the relegation zone following defeat to Burnley last time out.

Steve Bruce's men are unbeaten in their last nine matches in all competitions but Wednesday can at least take heart from taking seven points from a possible nine - and not conceding a goal - from their last three away matches.

Owls boss Dave Jones told the official SWFC website:

"Hull are having a good go at it, they`re at home and will probably be expecting three points.

"We have to go there and play at our best to get a result. We have to be as strong and as confident as we have been over the last month or so."

Tigers manager Steve Bruce told the official Hull City website:

"They`ve tightened up at the back recently and I think they`ve kept five clean sheets in their last six games.

"They`ve shut up shop a little bit, which you can understand. They`re a big club with a big history, big tradition, big support and a good manager - it`s going to be tough.

"We scrapped it out when we went to their place and I think that was the turning point for us. We had a few injuries, but Aaron Mclean managed to get a goal late on.'

Bruce made plenty of changes for his side's lacklustre FA Cup draw against Leyton Orient last weekend and he will be hoping they pay off when his big players return to action against the Owls.

Robbie Brady and David Meyler are set to make their first starts since making permanent moves to the KC Stadium this week. Both had impressed on loan deals and the Tigers decided to make their stays permanent.

Bruce had a fully fit squad training on Thursday, with Sone Aluko (calf) and Robert Koren (heel) back in action, while Ahmed Elmohamady could also feature after recovering from a calf injury.

Other players may get the headlines at Hull, but former Sheffield United midfielder Quinn will be desperate to take them against his former foes.

Wednesday have yet to make any January additions , but the Owls' injury list is short and their recent performances away from home should mean City find it tough to break through what has largely been a stubborn defence with five clean sheets in the last six matches.

David Prutton is missing as he serves the first of a two-match ban for collecting ten yellow cards this season, although Jeremy Helan will be available after serving a one-match ban of his own.

Goalkeeper Chris Kirkland and centre-back Anthony Gardner are set to return after being rested for last week's 0-0 stalemate against MK Dons in the FA Cup, and Jones could make a number of other changes to his starting eleven.

Gardner was Hull's record signing when they bought him during their Premier League stint and he will need to show the top of his game to help Wednesday leave the KC Stadium with any points.

Form:

Hull: D-D-W-D-W

Wednesday: D-L-D-W-W

Head-to-Head:

Hull wins: 11

Wednesday wins: 19

Draws: 16

Last Time Out:

Wednesday 0-1 Hull

Hillsborough, 6/10/12

Aaron McLean's late strike was enough to give the Tigers all three points earlier in the season, meaning City are on for a league double on Saturday.

v MK Dons (A, FA Cup) - 15/1/13

v Wolves (H) - 19/1/13

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