Huddersfield Town's game against Rotherham United this weekend has taken on more importance in the wake of back-to-back defeats at Charlton and Brentford.

A win for either side would go a long way towards sealing their Championship status once more for next season but Chris Powell will be wary of the fact the fourth-bottom Millers could close to within two points of his side with a win at the John Smith's Stadium.

Town's goal difference is also a concern, with their defence having now conceded the second highest amount of goals in the division this season after 3-0 and 4-1 setbacks in the capital.

But what are the key questions for Town ahead of their derby clash with Steve Evans' side?

Here are just some things to think about as Powell's side aim for a third home clean sheet on the trot to alleviate their relegation worries.

In pictures: Brentford 4-1 Huddersfield Town

Will Town be haunted by a former Terrier?

Danny Ward is back in town quite literally on Saturday and he will be intent on settling a score against his former side after failing to impress manager Powell before a January switch across the county.

Ward ended last season on a high note with an impressive hat-trick in the 4-1 dismantling of Watford, but found the going far tougher this time around and was used only sparingly after Powell's arrival.

The writing appeared on the wall for the 23-year-old's future at Town when he was fielded at left-back at Fulham after coming on as a substitute and the decision backfired spectacularly as the Cottagers secured a third goal on the break.

His move to Rotherham was no great surprise and he at least appears to be enjoying a new lease of life at the New York Stadium, where he has already netted three times for his new employers in 10 games.

But it is doubtful whether or not there is even a tinge of regret on Powell's part for letting a player who never looked like cementing a place in his first-team plans and has not greatly enhanced Rotherham's fortunes; that is unless of course he delivers the goods on Saturday.

Danny Ward at Rotherham United

10

Appearances

6

Starts

3

Goals

Are changes afoot?

Powell is the very depiction of calmness and serenity regarding his players and their performances in public, so it has been interesting to hear him so candid in his frustrations about his side's horror defensive showings over the last week.

He is clearly unimpressed with the way in which his side have conceded their goals in recent outings and their goals against column makes for pretty grim reading as we enter the final straight of the 2014/2015 Championship season.

While he is not blessed with options to come in for his underperforming first teamers, he may now look at this as the perfect opportunity to unleash the likes of Radoslaw Majewski and Joe Lolley, who have tasted precious little game time so far during his reign.

Clearly something needs to be adjusted from the debacles in London, where Town were found wanting in both halves of the field and ended up on the wrong side of comprehensive scorelines as a result.

Conor Coady made a positive impression when he emerged from the bench at Charlton but the biggest concern for Powell will be the fact he has few to no replacements to come in at the back and those that are available, such as Jake Carroll, have failed to press their claims.

Will Radoslaw Majewski finally come into the reckoning for Huddersfield Town against Rotherham United
Will Radoslaw Majewski finally come into the reckoning for Huddersfield Town against Rotherham United

Can this be defined as a six-pointer?

The two thumpings Town have suffered in recent days are indicative of just how difficult it is to predict the outcome of any match in this division and you only have to look at Norwich City's midweek loss to the seemingly doomed Wigan Athletic to realise that.

So all of a sudden there is a level of pressure attached to this game which had previously not existed, underlining the fine margins and the dangers of getting too ahead of yourself when everyone is capable of beating each other in the second tier.

The 3-0 success over Reading had Town fans dreaming of a top-half finish after reaching the rather lofty heights of 12th and with it some tangible progress from last season, but things have unravelled almost as quickly as the steady momentum they had built beforehand.

But make no mistake about it, Rotherham's situation is far more precarious than Town's and a win here for the Terriers would not only shift the narrative and mood around the place once more, it would also establish an eight-point buffer between them and the Millers.

Wigan's recent resurgence means Evans' men are not sitting as comfortably as they might have been but they themselves have a six-point advantage over the Latics so Town do have some breathing space to a degree, although a third defeat in a row - something the Terriers have not suffered since the tail end of last season in the league - would certainly have them twitching that little bit more.