Huddersfield Town bucked one trend this season by going into the fourth international break on the back of a victory, 4-1 at Leeds United.

Now can they follow suit by coming out of a free fortnight by winning?

The sequence so far is a 2-0 defeat at Cardiff City in September, a goalless draw at Ipswich Town in October and a 3-1 loss at Sheffield Wednesday in November.

The clash at Hillsborough, where Town led through Sean Scannell before succumbing to a late Owls onslaught, was David Wagner’s first match as head coach.

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The return is his 25th, including two FA Cup ties, and Town are chasing their 10th victory (there have been four draws).

The derby provides a good chance to gauge the progress made under the German.

Town, showcasing their full-throttle football for the first time, were competitive against Wednesday in South Yorkshire, but ran out of steam as Lucas Joao (2) and Kieran Lee cashed in.

Having been 21st in the Championship after that defeat, Town are now 16th, and eight points above the relegation zone.

Wednesday were eighth, and are now sixth, occupying the final play-off place with a three-point advantage above seventh-placed Cardiff City.

Maintaining, or possibly stretching, that gap will be a big incentive for Carlos Carvalhal’s side.

Wednesday have splashed the cash in their bid to regain the Premier League place lost in 2000.

Their highest finish since was ninth in the Championship in 2007, and failure to make the play-offs would be a major disappointment.

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Carvalhal’s side arrive on the back of successive wins, against Nottingham Forest and Charlton Athletic.

Suspended midfielder Barry Bannan is their only big miss, and Carvalhal has plenty of options to play alongside former Oldham Athletic man Lee.

Sam Hutchinson got the nod against Charlton, but Jose Semedo, Lewis McGugan and Alex Lopez could all come in.

Wednesday, who feature former Town player Jack Hunt at right-back, have been solid defensively of late, keeping three clean sheets on the bounce and four in the last five games.

Birmingham City v Sheffield Wednesday in the Sky Bet Championship match at St Andrews, with (Birmingham players first), Jacques Maghoma and Jack Hunt

And scoring has seldom been a problem this time around, with 56 notched in 38 games.

Only leaders Burnley, with 61, better that figure.

Thirteen-goal Fernando Forestieri, a £3m close-season signing from Watford, is an obvious danger to Mark Hudson and Co.

And so is Gary Hooper, who has troubled Town since his time as a Scunthorpe United player.

The 28-year-old has since played for Celtic and Norwich City, from whom he is on loan.