Sheffield Wednesday and Fulham could meet in the play-offs.
For months, it was billed as a potential play-off decider, instead an anticlimactic final day awaits for Sheffield Wednesday and Fulham – unless of course Leeds United can overturn a 13-goal deficit and dump out the Cottagers.
Both sides secured their top six places last weekend and are expected to make wholesale changes, with Fulham unable to finish any higher than six.
In contrast, Wednesday can still occupy any of the three other spots and know that if they at least equal the results of Reading and Huddersfield Town they will have the home advantage in next week’s semi-finals – against any of the three.
Nevertheless, Owls head coach Carlos Carvalhal is not expected to take any risks at Hillsborough.
Here’s how his much-changed side could look:
Keiren Westwood is likely to start, although Joe Wildsmith hasn’t had a run-out of late and could be thrown in in preparation for any play-off emergencies.
Carvalhal loves to rotate his full-backs, so don’t be surprised to see Liam Palmer and Morgan Fox replace Jack Hunt and Daniel Pudil respectively, while Vincent Sasso is expected to earn a recall, perhaps in place of Glenn Loovens – the more weary of Wednesday’s centre-back pairing of he and Tom Lees.
Ross Wallace went off against Ipswich and is almost certain to be rested whether he has recovered or not, which should allow Callum McManaman a rare start on the right of midfield, with the ever-present Adam Reach set to keep his place on the left.
Carvalhal may opt not to risk either of Sam Hutchinson or Kieran Lee, although Barry Bannan is perhaps due a break himself. Jose Semedo should feature, perhaps alongside David Jones if the former Burnley man recovers from his recent illness.
Wednesday are arguably deepest up front, so Sam Winnall and Jordan Rhodes are likely to return in place of Gary Hooper and Steven Fletcher, the Championship’s player of the month for April. Fernando Forestieri could again be kept in cotton wool.
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