Sheffield Wednesday v Huddersfield preview: Owls to check on Sam Hutchinson for Sky Bet Championship play-off clash

Sheffield Wednesday will check on Sam Hutchinson ahead of the second leg of their Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final with Huddersfield, live on Sky Sports 3.

Hutchinson missed Sunday's first-leg goalless draw at the John Smith's Stadium with a knee injury but boss Carlos Carvalhal is confident he will be fit.

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The Portuguese is not so optimistic about the fitness of Gary Hooper, who has a hamstring problem, though the striker is back in training.

Carvalhal is likely to adopt a more attacking strategy at Hillsborough after failing to produce at shot on target at Huddersfield as the Owls chase a win which will send them to Wembley for the second season running.

Goalkeeper Danny Ward is set to return to Huddersfield's starting line-up. The on-loan Liverpool stopper was banned for the first leg, with Joel Coleman keeping a clean sheet in his absence.

Terriers boss David Wagner insists Ward will come back into the XI provided he is able to overcome the bout of illness which prevented him from training on Monday.

Wagner has reported no new problems but remains without Philip Billing (knee), Kasey Palmer (hamstring) and Jon Gorenc Stankovic (knee).

Match stats

Sheffield Wednesday are now unbeaten in eight matches against Huddersfield (W5 D3) in all competitions.

Huddersfield have now failed to score a goal in all three matches (inc. play-offs) against the Owls this season.

Indeed, the Terriers have only managed two goals in their last eight meetings with the Owls.

Sheffield Wednesday have won both of their previous play-off games at Hillsborough without conceding a goal - 1-0 v Brentford (2005) and 2-0 v Brighton (2016).

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The Terriers have lost just one of their last five play-off fixtures played away from home (exc. neutral venue), winning three (D1).

The team in fourth place has won the Championship play-offs in two of the last three campaigns (Hull in 2015/16 & QPR in 2013/14); this after a run 15 years without promotion for the fourth-placed side.

Wednesday have reached the final of both play-off campaigns they've played in (4-2 AET v Hartlepool in League One 2004/05, lost v Hull in Championship 2015/16 final).

David Wagner's team have lost six of their last 11 matches in all competitions (W3 D2).

Prutton's prediction

The first leg was a very cagey affair. Sheffield Wednesday allowed Huddersfield to dominate the ball and there was a feeling from Carlos Carvalhal and his side that getting the tie back to Hillsborough at 0-0 means it's very much advantage them. However, it feels like one of those games, even though there's a lot of firepower on display, that could go all the way to penalties.

It's a tough one - a real toss of a coin as to who goes through. With Wednesday at home there may be a slight tactical change from them as they look to get on the front foot but Huddersfield are solid defensively.

This one's going all the way to penalties. Now you want me to tell you who is going to win on penalties? Home advantage will play a part - Wednesday to win on penalties.

PRUTTON PREDICTS: 1-1 - Sheffield Wednesday to win on penalties (Sky Bet odds: 9/2)

Betting

Sheffield Wednesday are the 6/5 favourites with Sky Bet to bag the victory against their Yorkshire rivals, with Huddersfield 13/5, the same price as the draw, while the tie is 9/2 to be settled on penalties. It is the home side's Fernando Forestieri who is seen as most likely to score first at 9/2, while for the Terriers both Nakhi Wells and Elias Kachunga are seen as the biggest threats at 6/1. The Owls promotion price has shortened since the first-leg to 2/1, while Huddersfield are seen as outsiders at 4/1.