In our game at Bramall Lane with Preston North End last October the Blades won 1-0 - it looked like United weren't going to score despite numerous attacks on the North End goal; but when it came it came from an unlikely source - Ugo Ehiogu (51) stabbing the ball home from close range at the second attempt.
Blades boss Kevin Blackwell heads into this fixture at Deepdale without defender Gary Naysmith (knee) for this crucial match in Lancashire, the Scottish international limped off early in the Blades 1-0 defeat at Burnley three games ago and will be out injured. He is likely to be once again replaced by Kyle Naughton at left-back whilst Kyle Walker (or Leigh Bromby) will take the right-back position.
Possible Blades Line-Up: Paddy Kenny, Kyle Walker, Chris Morgan, Matthew Kilgallon, Kyle Naughton, David Cotterill, Stephen Quinn, Nick Montgomery, Greg Halford, Darius Henderson, Jamie Ward.
In our trip to Deepdale in late January the Blades drew 0-0 although felt they should have won the game when Stephen Quinn saw his goal disallowed for offside.
Manager Alan Irvine will be without Lee Williamson for both legs of this seasons Play-Off encounter; he scored a very late goal to win the game 2-1 at Birmingham City, in celebration he took his shirt off and was handed his second booking of the night - he now serves a suspension.
On the injury front the Deepdale club are without; Steve Elliott (hand), Richard Chaplow (groin), Callum Davidson (hamstring), Michael Hart (groin).
Meanwhile Lian Chilvers (achilles), Neal Trotman (hernia) and Wayne Henderson (back) have all returned to training but neither one will be ready for match action just yet!
Possible Lilywhites Line-Up (4-4-2): Andrew Lonergan, Billy Jones, Youl Mawene, Sean St Ledger, Edie Nolan, Chris Sedgewick, Paul Mckenna, Darren Carter, Simon Whaley, Jonathan Parkin, Neil Mellor.
* Please not that due to deadlines and timings we had to write this match preview prior to our trip to Deepdale so therefore some information may be slightly in accurate.
:: Match Officials ::
Referee: Alan Wiley
Assistants: Shaun Procter Green and Stephen Child
Fourth Official - Russell Booth
03.03.1998 - Blades 0-1 Ipswich Town
12.09.1998 - Bradford City 2-2 Blades
02.01.1999 - Blades 1-1 Nott's County (FAC)
23.02.1999 - Nott's County 3-4 Blades (FAC)
01.01.2002 - Blades 1-3 Manchester City
03.12.2002 - Blades 2-0 Sunderland (LC)
21.01.2003 - Liverpool 2-0 Blades (LC)
11.09.2004 - Blades 1-2 West Ham United
21.10.2005 - Leeds United 1-1 Blades
23.09.2006 - Arsenal 3-0 Blades
11.11.2006 - Blades 2-2 Bolton Wanderers
21.04.2007 - Charlton Athletic 1-1 Blades
27.01.2008 - Blades 2-1 Manchester City (FAC)
27.01.2009 - Blades 0-1 Doncaster Rovers