Garry Monk's Sheffield Wednesday welcome Brentford to Hillsborough on Saturday afternoon in a battle of Championship playoff contenders.

The Yorkshire club are currently ninth in the table, two places and one point behind their West London opponents.

Match Preview

The Owls' win over Charlton Athletic last weekend was their first in six games and their first since late October.

Monk's side did look much improved in that game, with Barry Bannan influential in midfield as they created a number of good chances from open play.

Steven Fletcher got a brace in that game and his movement and partnership with the physical Atdhe Nuhiu will be key against a rather robust Brentford defence that has conceded just 14 league goals during the campaign thus far.

Wednesday have often struggled this season against more direct sides who are likely to play through the channels and overwhelm them with numbers in the final third.

It remains to be seen how much the Owls will be affected by the current off-field situation at the club, with it revealed earlier in the week that chairman Dejphon Chansiri is facing a misconduct charge.

Brentford are the form team in the Championship, having won six of their last eight games, and they thumped Luton Town 7-0 last weekend thanks to a highly impressive attacking display.

Thomas Frank has focused on playing a possession-based game since replacing Dean Smith in the dugout and it now seems to be clicking, with the pace of Bryan Mbeumo and Ollie Watkins combining with the creativity and vision of Said Benrahma and Jay Dasilva.

Watkins is one of the division's best finishers and he will be one to watch in Saturday's game, with his goal against Luton taking him to 12 for the season.

Although the West London club have been excellent in recent weeks, they have lost four of their last five trips to Hillsborough.

Sheffield Wednesday recent form: DLDLDW

Brentford recent form: WLWWLW

Team News

Fernando Forestieri made his return for the Owls last weekend but he was forced off at half time and it looks unlikely that he will be available for Garry Monk's side on Saturday.

Jacob Murphy is likely to return to the side in his place, with Monk expected to field a similar side to that which beat Charlton as Kieren Westwood and Julian Borner still out.

Brentford fans have been boosted by the news that exciting winger Sergi Canos is closing in on a first-team return, but this game may come a little too soon for the Spaniard.

The other notable injury absentee for the Bees is Greek striker Nikos Karelis, who is out for a number of months.

It is unlikely that Frank will make any changes to the side that beat Luton so convincingly.

Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup:
Dawson; Odubajo, Iorfa, Lees, Fox; Harris, Luongo, Bannan, Murphy; Fletcher, Nuhiu

Brentford possible starting lineup:
Raya; Dalsgaard, Jansson, Pinnock, Henry; Jensen, Norgaard, Dasilva; Mbeumo, Watkins, Benrahma

We say: Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Brentford

While Brentford enter this game in better form, Sheffield Wednesday's home advantage and more physical style should be enough to secure them a point.