The Owls host Preston on Friday with the intention to continue their small run of form and increase the gap with the relegation spots.

Jos Luhukay has favoured a reactive approach since becoming Wednesday manager with part of that being forced on him due to the amount of first-team players who were unavailable.

This means he has favoured a 5-3-2 formation due to the solidity it brings by creating a compact defensive shape which is hard to break down. However, it also limits attacking impetus and can leave the strikers isolated with Wednesday stuck absorbing pressure inside their own half.

The lack of pace throughout the team doesn't help in this formation because it puts a limit on the speed of transitions due to the inability to quickly support the advanced players. Therefore, an alternative setup for the Preston game is a 4-4-2 diamond formation with the intention to dictate proceedings by controlling possession.

Here's how the team would lineup in this alternative formation...

Kieren Westwood is due to return soon, but he is unlikely to be fit in time for this game so Wildsmith starts as usual.

Palmer should come in for Jack Hunt because he is less attacking-minded which ensures that he is unlikely to be caught out of position. Therefore, this wing is relatively solid which is important because of the lack of width in this formation.

Venancio has earned the right to be a starter this season with relatively consistent individual performances in a struggling side.

Lees partners the Portuguese defender in the centre of defence and captains the side as usual.

Reach's versatility means that he could start in the left-back role and is tasked with being more attacking-minded than his counterpart on the opposite wing. This ensures the opposition are stretched horizontally which opens up space in the central areas.

Pelupessy deserves to start in the right central midfield spot. His ability to break up opposition attacks and progress the ball into the attacking areas is important in helping dominate the central areas.

Hutchinson acts as a defensive screen in front of the defence. He ensures that the opposition has little penetration centrally and quickly recycles the ball to the creative players when he has possession.

The Scottish midfielder acts as a deep-lying playmaker in this team and his connection with the forward players is key in ensuring the possession is translated into chances created.

£6.3m-rated Forestieri is the key cog in this team and the formation is built around him and his creativity. Their attacks mostly run through him with Reach occasionally providing a wide threat as well as Bannan in central areas when the team is in the final third.

Joao is the main goalscorer in this team with the majority of chances coming his way. His danger in the box makes him ideal for this role.

Nuhiu is the foil for Forestieri and Joao to work off. His awkwardness makes him hard for the defence to deal with which draws players towards him and creates openings for the others.