Brentford v Walsall preview

Team news ahead of Saturday's League One clash between Brentford and Walsall at Griffin Park.

Karleigh Osborne and Kevin O'Connor remain Brentford's only absentees. Centre-half Osborne has been sidelined since injuring his foot against Stevenage back in October, but he was hoping to be back in action over the festive period. However, his comeback stalled when he picked up a dead leg in training and aggravated it playing for the reserves. Osborne hopes to be back in training next week and possibly in first-team contention by the end of the month. Club captain O'Connor has set his sights on a February return after suffering a foot injury against Basingstoke in the FA Cup two months ago. The Bees are hoping to complete the signing of Leicester midfielder Jack Warburton before the weekend. Walsall are boosted by the return of Olly Lancashire. The central defender has missed the last five games since sustaining a hamstring injury in the club's FA Cup exit to Dagenham & Redbridge in mid-December. Midfielder Kevan Hurst is touch and go having sustained a recurrence of his recent heel injury which has forced him out of training this week. Otherwise, manager Dean Smith has a fully-fit squad to select from. Centre-back Manny Smith returned from suspension to start last weekend's disappointing last-gasp 2-2 draw against Bournemouth. Goalkeeper Jimmy Walker will break Walsall's all-time appearance record should be feature as expected, with the goalkeeper having made his 529th senior outing for the Saddlers against the Cherries, equalling Colin Harrison's record which has stood since 1981.