Following a single goal defeat to Carlisle United last weekend Sheffield United have hit a seemingly all-time low. Matty Robson's 54th minute scrambled headed goal was enough to earn a first league victory for the manager less Blues and send United down to an unacceptable 21st after Coventry City competed there win on Sunday and leapfrogged the S2 side - it is the clubs lowest position for some 31 years. However it's where you finish in the table after 46 games is ultimately all that counts but Mr Weir could soon find himself in line at the job centre if results don't dramatically change for the better.
Blades boss David Weir will be without striker Shaun Miller (knee) through injury, but he welcomes back forward Febian Brandy for selection. The former Manchester United trainee was dismissed in the 1-0 home defeat to MK Dons three weeks ago and has served his suspension having missed the away games at; Scunthorpe United (JPT), Rotherham United and Carlisle United.
He may also call into the services of forward Marlon King, 33 who could make his debut against North End. The much travelled striker signed until the seasons end last Wednesday having been released by Birmingham City a month previous.
Meanwhile trio Neill Collins, Matt Hill and Harry Bunn are likely to be called upon to face their former club this weekend.
Collins joined the Lilywhites after a successful loan spell; initially signing in September 2009 (from Wolverhampton Wanderers) and made his deal permanent in January. However he made too few appearances before joining Leeds United (on loan) in February 2010. He had made his debut at home to Coventry City in a 3-2 win. He scored his only goal for North End against Ipswich Town (2-0) and made his final appearance at Derby County (lost 3-5) on 16 February before moving to Elland Road and signed permanent in the summer. He made a total of 20 (+2) appearances for the Lancashire side and scored just once.
Hill is also a former custodian of the Lancashire side; he signed for £100,000 from Bristol City in January 2005, ending a seven year spell at Ashton Gate. He made his debut in a 1-1 draw with Leicester City and he too was on the losing side (along with Richard Cresswell) in the Play-Off Final against West Ham United. In September 2008 he ended his association with Preston, signing for Wolverhampton Wanderers after making 107 (+12) appearances without scoring.
Bunn joined Preston on loan from Manchester City in January 2012 but managed just one game for the Lilywhites - a 3-2 win over Wycombe Wanderers in which he scored.
Preston North End is enjoying a great season (to date) in what is Simon Grayson's first season in charge of the Deepdale club since his appointment in mid-February 2013. They remain unbeaten in the league and have won their last three games quite convincingly; Walsall (3-0), Oldham Athletic (2-1) and Stevenage (3-0) have become victims to the Lilywhites express train.
In their last game, a resounding three-nil victory over Stevenage saw Paul Huntington (45); Scott Laird (59) and Kevin Davies (84) grab the goals to earn this victory which has seen them into 5th position with 13 points.
The Lancashire club have yet to name the same identical eleven for two games on the bounce, so there line-up against the Blades will come as much as a surprise to the North End faithful as anyone else but they will be without midfielder Jack King (foot) through injury whilst Jeffrey Monokana is currently serving a loan spell at Colchester United.
The Lilywhites are likely to call up the services of striker Kevin Davies who was born in Sheffield and played as youth for Sheffield United. However he was released by the Blades in 1992 aged 15 were he eventually made the grade with Chesterfield and signed professional terms in April 1994 and went onto bigger and better things - including a single cap for England in 2010. He has turned out for Southampton (two spells), Blackburn Rovers, Millwall (loan) and Bolton Wanderers, all mostly at top flight level before joining Preston in July 2013 on a free transfer.
Blades-Mad Prediction: Sheffield United 0-0 Preston North End