The two promotion favorites come facing each other in the championship this weekend in a Yorkshire derby at Elland Road with Leeds United.
Going into the weekend the Whites are perched on top of the table having 53 points from 26 games to Widen’s Wednesday 10th position having 49 points from the same number of games and almost within touching distance with the playoff zone.
Leeds experienced heartache in the playoff final last season and seem determined not to lose out on a promotion to the premiership again.
Daniel Farke’s men have been highly successful throughout the current campaign, especially when playing on their stomping grounds Norwich City has the best record of all the teams from the Championship playing on their home ground.
Remarkably well, the Whites have surrendered a mere goal seven times in the league at home all season and have also found the back of the net 30 times, which is one of the contributing factors to the team’s loss at Elland Road in the league all season.
The hosts are too on a run of nine games without losing in all competitions after their last loss in November to Blackburn Rovers.
However, Farke will be aware that his side have lost the plot in their previous two fixtures, and if they are to gain automatic promotion this year, they cannot afford anymore draws with teams like burnley, Sheffield united and Sunderland hot on their trail.
They shall be targeting their first league victory of the new year this weekend when they play host to a Wednesday side that has performed way above their expectations so far this campaign under the tutelage of; Danny Rohl.
The hosts will expect to extend the current good performance against other Yorkshire teams as the Whites have not lost in their last 17 meetings with teams from the area.
The Owls were predicted to be closer to the relegation zone than to promotion after finishing 20th in the Championship the previous season, but Wednesday's play has improved as the season has gone on.
Although Rohl's team was only three points above the drop zone after their November loss to local rivals Sheffield United, that setback seemed to be the pivotal moment in their season.
Wednesday has won five and drew four of their last 11 games since the loss at Bramall Lane, giving its supporters a realistic chance to battle for promotion in the second half of the season.
There’s been a noticeable turnaround in away performances for Rohl's squad, who have claimed victory in five of their last eight league games on the road—a stark improvement from managing just five wins in their previous 14 outings.
While they now boast the seventh-best away record in the Championship, the Owls will need to bring their A-game to Elland Road this weekend if they hope to secure a win.
Despite their solid season so far, their defensive record tells a different story. The visitors rank as the sixth-worst defence in the league, having conceded 40 goals in 26 matches.
This weekend will test their resilience like never before as they face a high-flying Leeds side, whose attack has been nothing short of relentless. Leeds leads the league with 48 goals in 26 matches—five more than their nearest competitors, Middlesbrough.
Pascal Struijk will be sidelined for at least three weeks due to a hamstring injury, dealing Leeds a blow ahead of this match.
Junior Firpo and Patrick Bamford are also sidelined due to hamstring problems; the Brazilian is anticipated to make a comeback by the end of the month.
The good news for the home team is that Joel Piroe, who missed last Saturday's FA Cup victory against Harrogate Town, is available for selection this weekend.
After missing three months due to a knee injury, Ilia Gruev made a late comeback against Harrogate.
Olaf Kobacki and Michael Ihiekwe are both said to be lacking in match sharpness, which puts the visitors in doubt for this encounter.
