Owls Vs Blades: derby day team news.

Last updated : 18 October 2008 By C. Morris

Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United clash once again in front of the Sky TV cameras at 1.15pm on Sunday and both camps are eager to keep their line ups to themselves for as long as possible.

Wednesday were expected to come into the game with a number of players doubtful due to injuries.

Left-back Tommy Spurr looks certain to miss out but Captain Richard Wood may well return along with left-back Peter Gilbert and possibly even Frank Simek. The USA international right-back has not played since December but got two reserve games under his belt in the past week and could return to the squad. New signing Lewis Buxton could be in contention to replace any of these players who cannot prove their fitness as he is capable of playing anywhere in the defence.

Jermaine Johnson will be hoping to return to the side having come back from international duty with Jamaica and Steve Watson could switch back to midfield having played in the defence that conceded four at Plymouth in the Owls last fixture.

Up front there has been a great deal of rumour and speculation regarding Akpo Sodje. The striker was a key player in the Hillsborough derby win last season and is a talisman for the Owls but he has had no football at all since pulling up in the first game of the season and it would be a big gamble for him to feature from the bench never mind the starting 11.

More likely is a first start of the season for Francis Jeffers, possibly partnering Marcus Tudgay at the expense of the out-of-form Deon Burton.

The visitors will be without injured striker Darius Henderson and midfielder Lee Hendrie but defensive stalwart Chris Morgan and central midfielder Nick Montgomery are expected to be fit for selection.

New loan signing Anthony Stokes should also be in the Blades squad.

United will come to Hillsborough with defeat in last seasons fixture fresh in their minds, Wednesday took four points of their city rivals last season.

The two sides have met 5 times in the league at Hillsborough since the Owls were relegated from the Premier League in 2000 with two wins each and one draw. In addition to this Wednesday won a home league cup tie against the Blades at Hillsborough in late 2000.

The consensus is that form goes out of the window for derby games but for the record Wednesday come into the game on the back of a 4-0 reverse at Plymouth but are yet to be beaten on home soil this season. The visitors will be high on confidence following a run of three straight wins.