It looks set to be something of a mismatch at Deepdale on Saturday, as Preston host Barnsley in the two side's final game before the September international break.

So far this season, no side has taken more points at home than the 13 accumulated by Preston, while no side has taken fewer points on the road than the solitary one picked up by Barnsley.

With a win for Alex Neil's side potentially taking them into the Championship's top two, depending on results elsewhere, this certainly feels like an opportunity that Preston will not want to pass up.

Here, we've taken a look at the starting XI Neil could name to give his side the best chance of picking up those three points against Barnsley on Saturday.

Having employed a 4-2-3-1 formation for the vast majority of Championship games so far this season, we imagine Neil will look to continue with that again on Saturday.

In goal, Declan Rudd should retain his place between the posts, as he has done throughout the league campaign so far.

One alteration that Neil will definitely have to make is in defence, where Daniel Johnson is suspended after picking up a fifth yellow card of the season in Tuesday's draw at Middlesbrough, meaning Joe Rafferty could fill the right-back role, with Andrew Hughes potentially set to return from injury on the left of the defence, and Ben Davies and Patrick Bauer continuing their effective centre back partnership.

Ahead of them, Paul Gallagher could return to the starting lineup in alongside Ben Pearson, with Daniel Johnson handed a break as a result.

Further forward, Billy Bodin is another who could be set for a return from injury to give Preston an extra attacking impetus against a Barnsley side you feel they will be expected to beat, alongside Sean Maguire and Tuesday night's goalscorer Josh Harrop, who has caught the eye with his impressive attacking performances so far this season.

In front of them, another player who could be in line for a rest is Tom Barkhuizen, who has worked tirelessly for the Lilywhites as a makeshift centre forward in recent weeks.

That would then hand Neil the opportunity to give David Nugent his first start for Preston since his return to the club in the summer, following his impressive display from the bench at The Riverside in midweek.