Huddersfield Town complete the trio of tricky tests against promotion chasers when Hull City come to town on Saturday.

And they'll be hoping to avoid a hattrick of losses.

David Wagner said he could understand a defeat to Middlesbrough, who have spent big on their squad, but he could not understand losing in that manner.

He'll be wanting a response against a side that also struggled to replicate anything near their best form in midweek - Hull were soundly beaten 4-0 by Derby County.

Here's five things to look out for ahead of kick-off...

All change since opening day

This weekend's fixtures are a replay of the ones we enjoyed on a sunny Saturday in August, when the league kicked off with hopes high and only a frisson of wariness on the horizon.

Hull City won 2-0 at the KC Stadium that day, restoring some joy to a fanbase who had seen them relegated from the Premier League the previous May.

But this is a chance to see how much has changed at Town since then.

A new manager in the dugout, a new style on the field and new excitement off it, with next season's bargain basement prices to watch, if not champagne football, then certainly sparkling wine rather than lemonade.

Now is Town's chance to prove to Hull they are a different prospect than they were last August, and they have every intention of hammering a close to final nail in Steve Bruce's chances of attaining automatic promotion.

A chance to end the relegation chatter

Huddersfield Town manager David Wagner looks on during the Sky Bet Championship match at the Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday April 5, 2016. See PA story SOCCER Middlesbrough. Photo credit should read: Richard Sellers/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.

The bookies may not agree with the pessimism that rolled off the tongue of some Town fans come the final whistle on Tuesday night, but there were definitely more than one or two voices shouting nervously about relegation.

While Town are not yet mathematically safe, they have an eight point lead over MK Dons in 22nd with six games to play.

One more win would allow those fans of a nervous disposition to calm down and prepare to grab the beach towel and flip flops.

This was always going to be a challenging run of fixtures, with Sheffield Wednesday, Middlesbrough and Hull all eyeing a place at the Premier League table next term, and with winnable fixtures coming up between now and the end of the season, a defeat should not be cause to hit the panic alarm.

However, the earlier Town fans can start planning trips to Nottingham and Birmingham, rather than Coventry and Peterborough, the happier everyone will be.

Record after Tuesday night games

MIDDLESBROUGH, ENGLAND - APRIL 05: Gaston Ramirez of Boro battles Dean Whitehead of Huddersfield during the Sky Bet Championship match between Middlesbrough and Huddersfield Town on April 5, 2016 in Middlesbrough, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

David Wagner, used to the he German league, doesn't relish playing two games in a week - and when you look at Town's record this season it isn't hard to see why.

Town have played 11 midweek games in all competitions this term, and the following Saturday has only yielded a win once.

One win, three draws and seven losses are the sum total of Town's efforts the weekend after a Tuesday night clash.

A lack of fitness before the arrival of Wagner is likely to have contributed to those stats, but the perils of a small squad are left exposed by a busy calendar.

Nahki Wells, withdraw during the second half at Boro, has barely had a rest, while Mark Hudson, Joel Lynch, Tommy Smith and Dean Whitehead are all likely to be asked to play another 90 minutes against Hull.

Steve Bruce has a far larger pool to draw from, but Town will take heart from the fact that the Tigers are coming off their own midweek drubbing at Derby.

Historically, something has to give

Sky Bet Championship - MK Dons (1) v Huddersfield Town (1) - Nahki Wells equalises for Town.

The stats don't make for particularly pleasant reading ahead of Town's latest encounter with a member of the top six.

The Terriers haven't scored against Hull in four attempts - the last one scored by Chris Brandon on New Year's Day 2005.

And yet, Hull haven't ever kept back-to-back clean sheets in this corner of Yorkshire, and are chasing their first successive victories away at Huddersfield since October 1987.

So something has to give.

For only the second time in Wagner's reign, Town have gone consecutive games without scoring. But as a side with one of the best goal tallies outside the top eight, they'll be backing themselves to change that on Saturday.

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

A farewell to James Husband

Video Loading

The time has come to say goodbye to another left back.

While he hasn't left quite the same impression on hearts and minds as Ben Chilwell did during his temporary spell at the club, Husband will be missed when he returns to Middlesbrough.

He has steadily improved in David Wagner's style and formation, and offers an attacking outlet as well as defensive nous.

He was forced to sit out Tuesday night's game against his parent club, so should be fresh and aiming to leave on a high.

It also means a likely return to the starting XI for Jason Davidson against Blackburn next Saturday.

Already aware that the club have moved to bring in a new left back next season, one who Wagner rates highly, how motivated will he be when Husband exits stage left?