Preston North End travel to Coventry City on Friday night as they look to extend their five game unbeaten run.
The fixture takes place a day earlier than planned due to The Sky Blues facing Maidstone United in the FA Cup 5th round on Monday night.
Despite the fixture taking place on a Friday night, it isn’t available to watch on television with Sky Sports instead showing a highly anticipated game between Leicester City and Leeds United.
Preston head into this game following a 2-2 draw with local rivals Blackburn Rovers last weekend. North End battled back from 2-0 down to salvage a point. That followed three wins in a row, and The Lilywhites will be looking for three points here to continue their push for a top six spot.
Preston still have Brad Potts, Duane Holmes, Ched Evans and Kian Best unavailable for this game, whilst Ben Sheaf and Jamie Allen are absent for Coventry.
Robbie Brady also misses out after picking up a knock last week, which means Ali McCann comes in. Either he or Alan Browne will shift into the right-wing-back role with Liam Millar reverting back to the left.
Preston starting XI: Woodman; Storey, Lindsay, Hughes; Millar, Whiteman, Browne, Frokjaer, McCann; Riis, Keane.
Preston substitutes: Cornell, Cunningham, Whatmough, Seary, Ledson, Woodburn, Mawene, Stewart, Osmajic.
Coventry City starting XI: Wilson, Van Ewijk, Thomas, Binks, Dasilva, Latibeaudiere; Eccles, O’Hare, Sakamoto; Simms, Wright.
Coventry City substitutes: Collins, Kitching, Bidwell, Kelly, Torp, Lusala, Palmer, Gooden, Tavares.
Coventry finished in the play-offs last season, and were beaten in the final on penalties by Luton Town. Mark Robins has done a fantastic job in his seven years at the club, taking them from League Two to the periphery of the top flight.
He has them once again fighting for promotion, and ahead of their clash with Preston, they lie in seventh place two points ahead of Ryan Lowe’s side. Hull City occupy sixth place at the moment and after a superb 2-1 victory away to Southampton in midweek, they are now five points ahead of Preston.
Preston face The Tigers at Deepdale next week, and will be looking to keep pace with them. Dropped points tonight, and a loss next week could suddenly see hopes of the top six slipping away once again.
North End beat Coventry 3-2 earlier this season, despite going a goal down. Goals from Duane Holmes, Alan Browne and Milutin Osmajic gave them the three points that day. The same result would be a fantastic way to kick off the weekend.