The Red and White Wizards faced Middlesbrough just over a week ago at the Riverside in the curtain raiser in the Championship. The game ended 0-0 with neither side really penetrating the opposition goal in what was very much a midfield battle throughout.
United will host Watford without midfielder Lee Williamson (back) who looks to require sugary after a pre-season out injured. They will also be without Gary Speed (back), Paddy Kenny (suspended) and Gary Naysmith (knee).
Striker Jamie Ward is available for selection for this weekend's fixture against the Hornets - the former Chesterfield forward has completed the two match ban he was handed out after his sending off at Wembley last May.
The Blades will however be without Lee Hendrie who is serving a four match suspension and will sit out the fixtures against Middlesbrough, Port Vale, Watford and Leicester City. The former Aston Villa midfielder was handed a red card after the final whistle at Wembley in May.
Kyle Walker, David Cotterill and Ched Evans are expected to return to the squad after the trio missed Tuesday nights Carling Cup fixture with Port Vale after being away on international duty. The latter two featured for Wales whilst walker represented England at U-19 level.
Blades boss Kevin Blackwell could opt to feature three former Hornets against their former employees; defender Leigh Bromby, midfielder Lee Williamson and striker Darius Henderson.
Full-Back Bromby is currently in his second spell at Bramall lane having being allowed to leave S2 in January 2008 after limited opportunities in the Steel City; he joined Watford in a £600,000 transfer before returning to the Lane at the back end of last season initially on loan and made a permanent move this summer. In all the former Sheffield Wednesday defender made 42 (+4) appearances whilst netting once at West Bromwich Albion.
Meanwhile Williamson, whom has yet to make a start for the Blades since he made his £500,000 move from Watford this season was snapped up (along with Will Hoskins) from Rotherham United in January 2007; making his debut as a substitute in a 4-0 defeat at Manchester United. He made 64 (+14) appearances and scored five goals before leaving the Vic.
Henderson made a move from Watford (for £2,000,000) in July 2008 after three years at the Hertfordshire club. He had originally been signed from Swindon Town in a £450,000 deal. In his first season with the club he helped them win promotion to the Premier League via the back-door; netting a penalty in their 3-0 win over Leeds United in the Championship Play-Off Final in Cardiff. He left the club having made 96 (+21) appearances and scored 31 goals.
Possible Blades Line-Up: Mark Bunn, Kyle Walker, Chris Morgan, Matthew Kilgallon, Andy Taylor, David Cotterill, Nick Montgomery, Stephen Quinn, Keith Treacy, Darius Henderson, Ched Evans.
Watford faced Doncaster Rovers at Vicarage Road in their first fixture of the new season,. the game ended in a 1-1 draw with the home side taking the lead; Danny Graham (27 minutes) got on the end of a Don Crowie free-kick to stab home on his debut for the Hornets.
However the South Yorkshire side hit back, and on 38 minutes they were level when James Hayter headed over keeper Loach from all of 16 yards out in what was a perfectly timed executed finish.
The Golden Boys are expected to make the journey to South Yorkshire with a full healthy squad; Jobi McAnuff (illness) has recovered from his pre-season problems whilst along with McAnuff, Danny Graham and Scott Severin both made their debuts in the 1-1 draw with Rovers.
Hornets manager Malky Mackay could turn to former Blades Jon Harley and John-Joe O'Toole in their quest for three points at Bramall Lane tomorrow.
Defender Harley had three spells at the Lane having featured twice on loan before making a full (and free) transfer from Fulham in June 2004, in all (including loan spells) the former Chelsea defender made 71 (+1) starts and scored on three occasions. He left United in August 2005 and joined Lancastrian outfit Burnley.
Midfielder O'Toole spent time at the Lane last season on loan; joining in February 2009 until the remainder of the seasons end. He made his Blades debut in as a substitute in a 2-1 win at Coventry City and went onto make 5 (+4) appearances whilst scoring once in a 2-1 home win over Barnsley.
Possible Hornets Line-Up: Scott Loach, Lloyd Doyley, Jay DeMerit, Mike Williamson, Adrian Mariappa, Don Crowie, Ross Jenkins, Tommy Smith, Scott Severin, Jobi McAnuff, Danny Graham.
Blades-Mad Prediction: Sheffield United 2-0 Watford
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:: Statistics ::
For Head to Head statistics please click here.
Last 10 Games... Home & Away
| Season | Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition |
| 2008/2009 | Sat 17 Jan | Watford | 0 - 2 | Sheff. Utd. | Championship |
| Sat 27 Sep | Sheff. Utd. | 2 - 1 | Watford | Championship | |
| 2007/2008 | Tue 29 Jan | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 1 | Watford | Championship |
| Sat 18 Aug | Watford | 1 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | Championship | |
| 2006/2007 | Sat 28 Apr | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 0 | Watford | Premiership |
| Tue 28 Nov | Watford | 0 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | Premiership | |
| 2005/2006 | Mon 06 Feb | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 4 | Watford | Championship |
| Sat 17 Sep | Watford | 2 - 3 | Sheff. Utd. | Championship | |
| 2004/2005 | Sat 23 Apr | Watford | 0 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | Championship |
| Sat 13 Nov | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 1 | Watford | Championship |
| Head to Head Statistics... | Goals | |||||
| Venue | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against |
| Home | 19 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 32 | 20 |
| Away | 20 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 24 | 21 |
Total | 39 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 56 | 41 |
* Statistics correct up to and including 01/08/2009
:: Match Officials ::
Referee: M. Oliver
Assistants: W. Grunill & I. Smedley
Fourth Official: W. Smallwood