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Both Sheffield United and Barnsley are looking strong ahead of the South Yorkshire derby in the Championship tonight.

Matches are at 19:45 UK time unless otherwise specified.

Sheffield United v Barnsley

Blades boss Kevin Blackwell (pictured) is expected to name an unchanged side from their 2-0 success over Ipswich on Saturday - their eighth game unbeaten and third straight win - and will need to continue that form if they are to keep the pressure on top two Wolves and Birmingham.

John-Joe O'Toole came off the bench in the Ipswich game following a knee injury, but the on-loan Watford midfielder is set to remain a substitute at Bramall Lane.

Championship Manager of the Month Blackwell admitted his side have "one or two little niggles" but "hoped to continue to be unchanged".

That means Greg Halford, who is on loan from Sunderland, will continue to be employed as a makeshift striker in support of Darius Henderson and Jamie Ward.

Barnsley boss Simon Davey has a fully-fit squad to choose from.

On-loan Liverpool midfielder Adam Hammill, who has been struggling with an ankle ligament injury, is back in full training but is unlikely to be risked as the Tykes look to move clear of the relegation zone.

Davey's side are three points clear of third-bottom Nottingham Forest going into their last seven games and the manager may opt to recall winger Martin Devaney to his starting line-up as he seeks a pressure-relieving win.

The sides last met in November when United edged a fractious affair 2-1 as both sides had a man sent off and Barnsley striker Iain Hume suffered a fractured skull after a collision with Chris Morgan.

Watford v Southampton

Watford boss Brendan Rodgers is waiting on the fitness of three players ahead of the Vicarage Road clash with crisis club Southampton.

Don Cowie scored in the 2-1 win at Doncaster on Saturday but later came off as a precaution after complaining of a tight thigh.

The Scot will be monitored in training and a late decision will be made on his availability, with Jon Harley on standby to take his place if required.

On-loan Tottenham youngster Danny Rose replaced Cowie at the Keepmoat Stadium but came off with concussion and is a doubt to face the Saints.

Tamas Priskin hobbled off with a recurrence of an ankle injury but is set to be passed fit to continue to lead the line.

On-loan Saints striker Grzegorz Rasiak would not be available to face his parent club under the terms of his move but the Pole is sidelined with a groin injury anyway.

Goalkeeper Mart Poom (shoulder) and midfielder Gareth Williams (knee) continue their lengthy stays on the sidelines.

Southampton will welcome Lloyd James back from suspension after the defender missed the last two games after collecting 10 yellow cards this season; he could come in for Jake Thomson at right-back.

Bradley Wright-Phillips is pushing to start after climbing off the bench to score in Saturday's 3-2 defeat by Charlton.

Saints are without midfielder Simon Gillett, who is out for the season after damaging knee cartilage, so Paul Wotton should keep his place.

Player-coach Michael Svensson (Achilles), centre-back Wayne Thomas (knee), midfielder Anthony Pulis (foot) and striker Jamie White (ankle) remain long-term absentees.

Saints will also be sweating on the outcome of a Football League meeting earlier in the day to discuss whether they should be docked 10 points after their parent company went into administration last week.

Crystal Palace v Coventry City (20:00)

Crystal Palace defender Clint Hill looks set to miss the match so Lee Hills could be handed a start at Selhurst Park.

Hill suffered a dead leg during Saturday's goalless draw at Queens Park Rangers and is unlikely to be risked, so Hills is likely to step in at left-back.

Neil Warnock is considering giving some of the club's youngsters a run-out with neither team having anything to play for, so Nathanial Pinney, Kieran Djilali and James Comley could be involved.

Skipper Shaun Derry has been playing despite needing a hernia operation and could be rested, while winger Sean Scannell's hernia problem keeps him out.

Paddy McCarthy is fit after four months out following shoulder surgery, but he will be held back for Saturday's visit of promotion-chasing Cardiff when Warnock will revert to his strongest side.

Coventry winger Jordan Henderson could join Leon Best on the sidelines as the Sky Blues sweat on the groin injury he suffered against Reading.

Henderson also had to be withdrawn against the Royals with a foot injury and is rated at 50/50 to face the Eagles.

Chris Coleman will be hoping that David Bell makes a timely return from a calf injury to replace the on-loan Sunderland winger.

Coleman vowed to freshen up his side for Coventry's second game in four days and Michael Doyle is expected to be recalled in the centre of midfield.

Follow live scoring and key highlights of tonight's Championship clashes from 19:45 on Eurosport-Yahoo!

TeamTalk / Eurosport