The Steel City derby is top of the bill on Monday night (kick-off: 19:45 GMT) as improving Sheffield Wednesday host neighbours Sheffield United.
Hot off the heels of another big derby game on Merseyside, Sheffield’s top football clubs collide at Hillsborough for local bragging rights.
Wednesday are unbeaten in six matches since Steve Bruce – who began his managerial career with the Blades – took over at the start of February.
High-flying United, meanwhile, can climb into the automatic promotion places with a win at the home of their bitter rivals.
That gives Chris Wilder’s team every incentive, and the betting makes the visitors firm favourites to triumph. The Owls, meanwhile, are 11/4 outsiders with Betfred for the win.
As we saw with Everton and Liverpool, derby games can be cagey affairs which neither team wants to lose. Draws don’t really satisfy either set of fans, but they often happen.
Honours even in Steel City looks likely outcome
That’s certainly been the case in most recent fixtures between Sheffield Wednesday and United. Four of their previous six encounters – including the last two – have finished level.
A share of the spoils for both sides at Hillsborough is a best price of 12/5 with BetVictor. These two teams are both in decent form and come into this battle off the back of six-match unbeaten runs.
In Billy Sharp, the Blades have a prolific goalscorer who is proven at Championship level. Fellow striker Gary Madine is a former Owls frontman who gives this derby an added dimension.
Five of Wednesday centre forward Steven Fletcher’s eight goals this season have come at Hillsborough, meanwhile, and three in the last two matches.
Bruce is clearly getting the best out of the Scotland striker and so the two attacks could cancel one another out in this.
Bet of the Day: 12/5 with BetVictor for a draw in Sheffield Wednesday v Sheffield United.
