Preview: Plymouth v Owls

The injury problems continue for Brian Laws and his Owls side, and they couldn't have come at a worse time as Wednesday make the long, tough trip to Home Park to face in form Argyle on Saturday.

Plymouth is never an easy place to get to, but Wednesday have faired relatively well at Home Park in recent seasons, even with similar injury problems to the current crisis.

The Owls were without any strikers in the same fixture last season, yet still managed to come away with all three points, and Brian Laws will be hoping for a similar outcome this time round.

Owls boss Laws told the official Owls site:

'One of the main headaches was Deon, who had a little bit of a groin strain. He hasn't trained much over the last couple of days but it looks very positive for Saturday.

'Marcus Tudgay reported ill on Thursday so we sent him home but I should think he will be okay for the weekend. Glenn Whelan is out of the situation and I am keeping my selection close to my chest.

'But there's no reason why we can't go to Plymouth and win. We're not going there for a draw, we're going for all three points.'

Former Wednesday target Jermaine Easter has been snapped up by the Pilgrims but it's likely the former Wycombe man will have to settle for a place on the bench at the weekend.

Former Manchester United man Sylvan Ebanks-Blake will undergo a late fitness test after picking up a knock but should get the all clear to carry on his fine form against the Owls, while Peter Halmosi and Manchester United loanee Lee Martin will also undergo late fitness tests.

But boss Ian Holloway suffered a blow in midweek with the news that defender Gary Sawyer will sit out with an ankle injury picked up in a reserve clash in midweek - Matt Doumbe is likely to step in.

The former Wycombe hotshot may start the game on the bench but the latest signing will add more competition for places at Argyle, and will be keen to impress as 'super sub' should he come on against his former admirers.

Owls boss Brian Laws faces a selection headache in midfield after Graham Kavanagh returned to Sunderland following his one-month loan spell, and Glenn Whelan will sit out through suspension after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season in the victory over Blackpool.

Defender Richard Wood has also suffered a further set-back with a shoulder injury and will be missing in the defence, which means Brian Laws will have to make the decision over whether to play the returning Steve Watson at the back or in midfield.

Marcus Tudgay and Deon Burton should both be fit and available despite missing out in training this week, but Akpo Sodje could well keep his place in the Owls front line.

Kenny Lunt and Etienne Esajas could also be pushing for a recall while Yoann Folly also featured in the midweek reserve game.

In a depleted Wednesday midfield, the performance of the tricky winger Johnson could well decide the Owls' fate at Home Park.

Head-To-Head:

Plymouth wins: 9
Wednesday wins: 11
Draws: 11

Last Time Out:

Wednesday 1-1 Plymouth

06/03/2007 - Hillsborough

Plymouth had matters elsewhere to concentrate on with a vital FA Cup clash on the Saturday, but they still held Wednesday to a 1-1 draw. Steve Maclean had coasted the Owls in to the lead on 21 minutes before Dan Gosling levelled minutes after the break.

Current Form:

Plymouth: L-W-W-D-W

Wednesday: W-L-W-L-L

Previous Line-Ups:

Plymouth: McCormick, Connolly, Timar, Seip, Hodges (Gosling 79), Norris, Nalis, Martin (Fallon 79), Halmosi, Ebanks-Blake (Easter 65), Hayles. Subs Not Used: Larrieu, Sawyer.

Wednesday: Grant, Hinds, Simek, Michael Johnson, Spurr, Whelan (Watson 77), O'Brien, Kavanagh, Jermaine Johnson (Esajas 79), Tudgay, Sodje (Burton 63). Subs Not Used: Burch, Beevers.

06/11/07 - West Brom (A)

10/11/07 - Southampton (H)

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