League matters are put to one side as Sheffield Wednesday entertain Crystal Palace in the FA Cup third round.
Illness hits Owls squad; Palace to field changed back four
Crystal Palace take a break from their play-off push to take on struggling Sheffield Wednesday for a place in the third round of the FA Cup.
The Eagles are unbeaten in three and look in good condition to capitalise on Wednesday's poor run of form.
No win has been forthcoming in 12 matches for the Owls, who have now slipped to second bottom in the Championship table.
The Hillsborough club did battle back to take a well-earned point from league leaders Newcastle last time out, but they remain managerless following the dismissal of Brian Laws.
Wednesday news
:
Academy head coach Sean McAuley remains in charge of first team affairs on a caretaker basis as the search Laws' successor goes on.
Richard Hinds looks to be McAuley's main absentee for the Palace clash, the defender's heel problem looking to keep him sidelined.
Illness could prevent Lee Grant, Michael Gray and Tommy Spurr from taking part, meanwhile Luke Varney has returned to parent club Derby following his loan deal
Palace news
:
Manager Neil Warnock could call upon Claude Davis following the defender's one-match ban.
Danny Butterfield returns from a hamstring injury, with defensive colleague Clint Hill expected to fill in at full-back at the expense of Lee Mills.
Freddie Sears is back at West Ham after a loan spell at Selhurst Park, meanwhile injured goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan requires surgery after fracturing a cheekbone while at League One side Oldham.
