Aiming to move all but clear of the bottom three in the Championship table in the final run-in, Stoke City will play host to Sheffield Wednesday on Friday.
The Potters have moved five points above the drop zone thanks to an unbeaten streak, while their visitors have dropped into the bottom half in the midst of a winless run.
Match preview
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Stoke City return to action on Friday with a chance to all but cement their Championship status next season, having built a healthy lead over the relegation zone in recent weeks.
An away loss to Millwall before the March international break left them in a tricky position in the fight at the bottom end of England's second tier on just 39 points from 38 outings, but the Potters have bounced back in style on their return from the final break of the season.
Indeed, Mark Robins's side have gone unbeaten in their last four games and picked up eight points along the way, having firstly beaten Queens Park Rangers 3-1 at home and played out draws with Preston North End and Luton Town.
The points were only shared in the second of those draws as a result of an injury-time leveller for their visitors, and the Staffordshire outfit managed to bounce back to winning ways last weekend, visiting 22nd-placed Cardiff City and moving clear of the bottom three with a crucial 1-0 win thanks to a Will Fish own goal five minutes from time.
Now finding themselves 18th and five points above the drop zone with just four games remaining, Stoke City head into the Easter weekend knowing a victory would seal their place in the Championship next season and will aim to get over the line on home turf on Friday.
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Their visitors, meanwhile, make the trip to Staffordshire aiming to arrest a slump before the end of the Championship season.
The 2024-25 campaign was largely an improved one for Sheffield Wednesday, who sat in the playoff race on 45 points from 32 games in mid-February, but they have dropped out of the bottom half in disappointing fashion since, adding just eight more points to that tally in 10 further attempts.
The Owls firstly lost four of their last six matches before the March international break and have been winless on their return, beginning with away draws against Cardiff City and Blackburn Rovers either side of a home defeat to strugglers Hull City.
Oxford United then visited Hillsborough on Saturday and left with all three points as Sam Long netted the only goal 11 minutes from time, condemning Danny Rohl's side to a 17th league defeat of the campaign and a sixth in their last 10 outings.
Having now dropped out of the playoff race and down to 14th spot in the Championship, albeit only trailing Swansea City in the top half by a single point, Sheffield Wednesday will be keen to bounce back on Friday and begin an improved run to end their campaign on a relative high.
Team News
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Stoke City continue to contend with several injury issues, as defenders Josh Wilson-Esbrand, Michael Rose and Enda Stevens are set to remain confined to the treatment room alongside midfielder Sol Sidibe.
Mark Robins may field an unchanged starting XI from the weekend's win over Cardiff City, with Junior Tchamadeu, Ben Wilmot, Ashley Phillips and Eric Bocat bound to continue in a back four after their clean sheet.
January arrival Ali Al-Hamadi should again lead the line with support from Jun-ho Bae, Lewis Baker and Million Manhoef despite competition from Sam Gallagher, Lewis Koumas and Andrew Moran.
Sheffield Wednesday will remain without defenders Max Lowe and Di'Shon Bernard on Friday due to ongoing injuries, while attackers Olaf Kobacki and Michael Smith and key midfielder and captain Barry Bannan also missed last weekend's defeat to Oxford United.
If Bannan is not deemed fit to return, Stuart Armstrong and Svante Ingelsson will compete to join Shea Charles in the middle of their 4-2-3-1 setup, while Akin Famewo will again partner Michael Ihiekwe at the heart of a back four having returned from his own injury layoff in recent weeks.
Charlie McNeill, Ibrahim Cissoko and Ike Ugbo will compete for attacking spots after Anthony Musaba, Josh Windass and danger man Djeidi Gassama supported Callum Paterson last time out.
Stoke City possible starting lineup:
Johansson; Tchamadeu, Wilmot, Phillips, Bocat; Burger, Thompson; Manhoef, Baker, Bae; Al-Hamadi
Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup:
P Charles; Valery, Ihiekwe, Famewo, Johnson; S Charles, Armstrong; Musaba, Windass, Gassama; Ugbo
We say: Stoke City 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday
With the hosts gaining in confidence and the visitors seemingly ending their campaign in a rut, we back Stoke City to cement their Championship status for next season with a second straight victory to kick off the Easter weekend.
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Sam Varley
