Sheffield United go into this fixture on back of a poor run of form, losing 2-0 at Bristol City whilst their home form looks healthy compared to their away misery it won't be easy against Paul Simpson's side.
Mark Noble took full advantage of a terrible head back by Chris Morgan to hand City the lead just before half-time before Noble crossed for Michael McIndoe to rise unchallenged to head home with twenty minutes remaining.
Sheffield United are likely to introduce full-back Phil Bardsley to the starting line up; the defender has joined the Blades on a one month loan deal from Premier League Champions Manchester United. Meanwhile Gary Naysmith has returned his international duties with Scotland with a knee injury.
Northern Ireland international Keith Gillespie (hamstring) missed their international fixture last Wednesday and is likley to be missing from the game at Bramall Lane through injury.
Defender Chris Lucketti could return to the starting line-up to face his former club. He joined the Blades from the Lilywhites on a free transfer in May 2005 after a successful loan deal; he has played 203 (+7) games for North End and scored 11 times since he made the move to Deepdale from Huddersfield Town in August 2001.
Possible Blades Line-Up: Paddy Kenny, Phil Bardsley, Gary Cahill, Matthew Kilgallon, Chris Armstrong, David Carney, Alan Quinn, Lee Hendrie, Stephen Quinn, James Beattie, Jonathan Stead.
Preston North End have also had a turbulent time in the Championship this season, they didn't quite make the play-offs last term which led to the exit of star striker David Nugent, who after some negotiating eventually joined Portsmouth.
And, like Sheffield United the Lilywhites have yet to record a victory on their travels with only one point to show for their efforts. In all they have scrambled 9 points together and only by goal difference lay one placed below the Blades after ten games.
There last encounter in the league saw the Deepdale club leave Portman Road without a point to prove as they lost 2-1 at Ipswich Town. Alan Lee (34) and Tommy Miller (74) put Town into a double lead before Neil Mellor (88) converted his penalty to give North End shank consolation.
Possible Lilywhites Line-Up: Andrew Lonergan, Danny Pugh, Liam Chilvers, Callum Davidson, Youl Mawene, Kevin Nicholls, Billy Jones, Chris Sedgwick, Darren Carter, Karl Hawley, Paul Gallagher.
:: Match Officials ::
Match Referee: J. Singh (Middlesex)
Assistants: W. Barrett & D. Ford
Fourth Official: S. Cook
- No Blades matches officiated