Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United will face each other for the first time in five-and-a-half years this season.
Sheffield United have been backed to make the Championship play-offs ‘or better’ by former Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Carlton Palmer.
United won their first game back in the second tier after a six year absence against Brentford on Saturday, continuing the momentum which saw them run away with the League One title last season.
Billy Sharp scores Sheffield United’s winning goal against Brentford
And Palmer, who was part of Wednesday’s successful team of the early 1990s, believes back-to-back promotions could be on the cards for the Blades.
Discussing United’s opening day success, Palmer told this week’s You Are The Ref show: “I’ve said from the start of the season I fancy them for the play-offs, I do.
“They’ve got momentum. Chris Wilder’s learnt his trade at the bottom, he knows how to win football matches. And let me tell you, I know people say the Championship is a tough league to get out of – it is because of the volume of the games.
“But if you’ve got a strong, resilient squad – if you look at (Burnley manager) Sean Dyche, he’s shown the blueprint of what’s needed. If you’ve got that, you’ve got a chance. They (United) will be play-offs or better, I think.”
Carlton Palmer in action during his second spell at Sheffield Wednesday
Having finished sixth and then fourth over the past two campaigns, Wednesday are themselves expected to challenge for promotion this season.
However, Chris Wilder’s Blades already have a three-point advantage over the Owls, who went down 1-0 at Preston North End on Saturday.
Carlos Carvalhal’s side host United at Hillsborough in six weeks’ time – five-and-a-half years since the pair’s last meeting.
Who will finish higher this season – Sheffield Wednesday or Sheffield United?
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