Owls looking for 5th place on Friday

Last updated : 16 March 2017 By C. Morris

6th placed Sheffield Wednesday face 5th placed Reading at Hillsborough in the Championship on Friday evening as the race for a play-off place intensifies.

Owls coach Carlos Carvalhal stated on Thursday that centre-back pairing Tom Lees and Glenn Loovens should be fit enough to play. The news comes as a big boost as with Vincent Sasso suspended and Sam Hutchinson doubtful, the home side could have gone into the game without a recognised first team centre-back.

Key playmaker Fernando Forestieri remains a major doubt with an injury that is under assessment having missed last weekends game at Villa Park. Marco Matias has returned to training but is unlikely to be ready to play having not featured all season and Gary Hooper is also still sidelined.

Reading make the trip north without former Sheffield United midfielder Steven Quinn. Callum Harriott and Liam Kelly are also sidelined but defensive duo Liam Moore and Paul McShane should be fit to return from hamstring injuries. Forward Jordan Mutch faces a late test of his fitness.

Both sides will be looking to bounce back from defeats last time out. The Owls were beaten 2-0 at Aston Villa and Reading suffered a 3-0 loss at Preston last weekend.

Wednesday lost 2-1 at Reading when the two sides last met in December and both matches between the two teams last season resulted in 1-1 draws.

With 7th placed Fulham at home to struggling Wolves on Saturday, either side could find themselves out of the top 6 going into next weeks international break.