Preview: Owls v Coventry

Wednesday fans will be hoping for an improved performance from their team's last outing at Hillsborough when money-troubled Coventry City travel up to S6 tomorrow.

The Sky Blues have a huge question mark over their finances, with a takeover deal with Ray Ranson still up in the air, and the club pondering administration.

Still, City responded in fine style in midweek by banging four goals against Midlands rivals West Brom on their own turf, and will be no pushovers following Iain Dowie's arrival at the Ricoh Arena.

Sky Blues boss Iain Dowie said:

'Hillsborough is always a very difficult place to go.

'Brian Laws has got his team playing good football and they are in good form of late. But we have been very good away from home.

'Consistency is important and we must take how were performed at West Brom to Hillsborough.'

The biggest blow for Owls boss Brian Laws is likely to be striker Akpo Sodje, who limped out of the 0-0 stalemate with Southampton in midweek and is likely to sit out through injury.

And with Francis Jeffers and Deon Burton already out through injury, Laws will have to ponder his options as to who to throw in to the attack alongside Marcus Tudgay, with Wade Small being the likely option.

But Wednesday could get a boost with the news that Frank Simek and Steve Watson could both return straight in to the side after missing the trip to St Mary's with a knee and toe injury respectively.

Yoann Folly could well be the man to drop out should Watson get the nod.

Johnson has been very hit and miss this season, but the Owls will need him to be on top form for the visit of the Sky Blues, posing the biggest attacking threat with his pace and skill going forward.

Sky Blues' boss Iain Dowie will have a huge selection headache for the trip north after his side put in a sparkling performance to see off West Brom in midweek.

Arjan De Zeeuw and Stephen Hughes were both rested for the trip to their Midlands rivals and were expected to return today, but Dowie could opt to stick with his same eleven.

Former Owls loanee Leon Best is likely to start for the Sky Blues, and is also likely to want to bag against his former club.

The Maltese international could well be the trickiest player to come up against the Wednesday defence, and their fine clean sheet record will be stretched to the limit this weekend. Mifsud has been in top form for City, and has also attracted the interest of a number of Premiership clubs.

Head-To-Head:

Wednesday wins: 27
Coventry wins: 29
Draws: 20

Last Time Out:

Wednesday 2-1 Coventry

Hillsborough, 21/04/07

Marcus Tudgay and Steve Maclean grabbed the goals for a rejuvinated Owls side, who were pushing for one last shot at the play-offs. Needless to say, Michael Mifsud bagged the visitors' goal.

Current Form:

Wednesday: D-L-W-D-W

Coventry: W-L-D-L-L

Previous Line-Ups:

Wednesday: Grant, Bullen, Hinds, Beevers, Spurr, Jermaine Johnson, Folly, Whelan, O'Brien, Small (Esajas 85), Sodje (Tudgay 28). Subs Not Used: Burch, Lunt, Boden.

Coventry: Konstantopoulos, McNamee, Ward, Turner, Borrowdale, Michael Hughes, Tabb, Doyle (Osbourne 88), Mifsud, Best (Adebola 87), McKenzie (Gray 82). Subs Not Used: Marshall, Cairo.

V Crystal Palace (A) - 15/12/07

V Watford (H) - 22/12/07

V Burnley (A) - 26/12/07

Vital F1 Prediction League - Join now for the British GP

Seconds Out! Vital Boxing is here!