Sheffield United host Sheffield Wednesday on Friday in the Steel City Derby, with the two sides entering the fixture on the back of a defeat last weekend.

Despite losing to Nottingham Forest last weekend, Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United still enter Friday’s contest in a strong position, with automatic promotion certainly the aim for the Blades this season.

Sheffield Wednesday will be looking to put another dent in those promotion hopes and bounce back from a crushing 4-0 defeat to Norwich City last weekend.

Jos Luhukay’s side have in fact lost the last four Championship fixtures, which has seen them free-fall down the table.

The Owls sit just four points above the relegation zone, with their playing squad struggling to turn things round.

Whilst they struggle, Wilder’s side continue to defy the odds at the other end of the Championship.

Here at FLW, we take a look at both of those squads, identifying a combined XI…

Sheffield Wednesday have all kinds of problems in the goalkeeping department and Henderson is the obvious choice in this department.

Basham was sorely missed last weekend against Forest, with the Sheffield United centre-back so consistent when he plays.

Egan has been a shrewd addition at Bramall Lane and lines up in this XI.

O’Connell completes an all-Blades defensive unit.

Sheffield Wednesday are yet to keep a clean sheet, so the decision to leave out Tom Lees wasn’t difficult.

Freeman has been Wilder’s choice on the right this season and he’s better than the options Wednesday have.

Coutts is still finding his feet back in the starting XI after a long-term injury, but we know all about his quality and he has to be included.

Bannan is Wednesday’s first inclusion and he edges out Oliver Norwood.

The Scot is key for Luhukay’s side and amongst the Championship’s best midfielders.

Fleck is another key player for the Blades and an easy inclusion in this side.

Reach is so versatile and has impressed in a more advanced position that this for the Owls this season.

However, he’d thrive on the left in this side.

Fletcher is back in the Scotland squad, with the Wednesday striker impressing under Luhukay.

He’s been a rare shining light in recent weeks.

Sharp is spearheading Sheffield United’s promotion push and an easy pick.

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