Huddersfield Town look to arrest a three game losing streak by completing a third double of the season over Preston North End at Deepdale.

Without suspended Mark Hudson, plus the injured Emyr Huws and Sean Scannell, here are three key battles that could shape the outcome of Saturday's Yorkshire/Lancashire rivalry...

Jonathan Hogg v Adam Reach

Skybet Championship - Huddersfield Town (2) v Brentford (1) - Jonathan Hogg. sport football action england December 2014

One of Simon Grayson's smartest pieces of January transfer business was done on the second day of the month - extending Adam Reach's loan from Middlesbrough until the end of the season.

The versatile 23-year-old has played the majority of his games on the left side this season, but has also been deployed on the opposite flank and started up top alongside Joe Garner against Derby last time out. That range of positioning makes him perfect for roaming around the pitch and pulling defenders out of position, so he'll be one for defensive midfielder Jonathan Hogg to keep a close eye on.

Under Grayson, PNE have seemed happy for opponents to play the ball around the back line but are quick to put pressure on the midfielders as soon as the ball is played forward, so Reach's tussle with Hogg could prove crucial to both defence and building attacks from the back.

Although he saw red in the cup replay at Reading, Hogg enjoyed a good start to 2016 and was third in your Player of the Month ratings. A continuation of that form in marshalling Reach would be most welcome.

Watch David Wagner discuss Town's January transfer window

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Nahki Wells v Tom Clarke

Nahki Wells


Preston's defenders will need no introduction to Nahki Wells. They're likely to recall all too clearly the post-Christmas runaround he gave them on Boxing Day, when he scored twice against a defence not known for their generosity with opposition strikers.

The bad news for Preston is after a run of three games without a goal he was back on the scoresheet against Cardiff, and was looking more like his old self after benefiting from a midweek rest. Now on 11 goals for the season, he remains Town's most potent threat and the most likely route to goal.

Former Huddersfield Town man Tom Clarke will have a close eye on the Bermudian striker as PNE look to add to their impressive record of 13 Championship clean sheets since promotion.

The stalemate with Derby on Tuesday was Preston's first clean sheet since the New Year, but Clarke has warned Simon Grayson's men are adapting to the league and will be a tough proposition.

The winner of the battle between Wells and Clarke is likely to determine whether they get no.14 this weekend.

Joel Lynch v Daniel Johnson

PRESTON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 12: Daniel Johnson of Preston North End during the Sky Bet Championship match between Preston North End and Reading at Deepdale on December 12, 2015 in Preston, England. (Photo by Dave Thompson/Getty Images)

Likely to be playing alongside Martin Cranie for the second successive game in the absence of the suspended Mark Hudson, Joel Lynch will be the senior defender expected to contain top scorer Daniel Johnson.

The stand-in skipper has spoken this week of his desire to eliminate the team's defensive mistakes, and if that does not happen then Johnson, with eight goals in all competitions this term, looks best placed to capitalise.

After a hot streak in August and September, Johnson has found Championship defences tougher to break down, but he did grab the opener against Ipswich Town three games' ago and he set up the all-important winner against Hull City.

In a team that has struggled for goals this season, Johnson has proven he is up to the task.

The problem Lynch has is combining his passion with a degree of caution - he's on nine bookings, and one more will see him suffer the same two match suspension as Hudson. Town can ill-afford any more enforced absences and Wagner will be counting on his captain to defend with his head as well as his heart.