Sheffield United could give striker Rob Hulse a start following his successful return to match action at Cardiff City despite a 1-0 defeat - the striker has made his long return recovery since he broke his leg last March at Chelsea.
Meanwhile skipper Chris Morgan (ankle) is in doubt after he injured his leg at Ninian Park and needed to be replaced by former Preston defender Chris Lucketti.
The Blades are also likely to be without star striker James Beattie (knee) who will be replaced by Rob Hulse - the Championships top scorer with 13 goals was forced off injured during the 1-1 draw with Blackpool on Boxing Day.
Possible Blades Line-Up: Paddy Kenny, Phil Bardsley, Chris Lucketti, Matthew Kilgallon, Gary Naysmith, Keith Gillespie, Michael Tonge, Nick Montgomery, David Carney, Rob Hulse, Billy Sharp.
Eagles boss Neil Warnock is likely to name the same team which played at Coventry City last Wednesday; although he could start former Blades Paul Ifill and Shaun Derry.
However players; Tony Craig is continuing his rehabilitation (shoulder), Mark Kennedy is still struggling (Achilles tendon) and Paul Dickov (toe) is also out.
Ifill was sighed by Neil Warnock in the summer of 2005 from Millwall and made an immediate impact; netting on his debut in a 4-1 opening day victory over Leicester City as the Blades won promotion to the Premiership.
He left Bramall Lane in January 2007 and joined Londoners Crystal Palace; during his time at the Lane he made 34 (+11) appearances whilst he netted nine goals.
Derry, who is on loan from Leeds United joined the Blades in a £700,000 transfer in January 1998 from Nott's County. He left Bramall Lane for Portsmouth in March 2000 having played 73 (+10) times and netted just once.
Possible Eagles Line-Up: Julian Speroni, Mark Hudson, Danny Butterfield, Matt Lawrence, Clint Hill, Shaun Derry, Franck Songo'o, Ben Watson, Tom Soares, James Scowcroft, Clinton Morrison.
:: Man in the Middle ::
Referee: Andy D'Urso (Essex)
Assistants: C. Reeves & A. Smith
Fourth Official: A. Taylor
28.11.1998 - Blades 0-4 Sunderland
23.12.2000 - Portsmouth 0-0 Blades
06.03.2002 - Coventry City 1-0 Blades
21.04.2003 - Blades 2-1 Leicester City
06.01.2007 - Blades 0-3 Swansea City (FAC)
02.10.2007 - Blades 3-3 Cardiff City
:: Last Five Meetings ::
at Bramall Lane...
- 30.04.2006 - Blades 1-0 Palace
- 07.02.2004 - Blades 0-3 Palace
- 17.12.2002 - Blades 2-1 Palace (LCQF)
- 30.11.2002 - Blades 2-1 Palace
- 25.09.2001 - Blades 1-3 Palace