Hull City will be aiming to secure a return to England’s top flight at the first attempt when they lock horns with Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship play-off final at Wembley on Saturday.
The Tigers were one of the early-season favourites to earn automatic promotion to the Premier League after making a strong start to the campaign and maintaining their position in the top five of the Championship standings.
However, they have been forced to battle it out in the play-offs after finishing in fourth place, six points behind second-placed Middlesbrough. Steve Bruce’s men recorded a 3-0 victory over Derby County in the first leg of the play-off semi-finals, with the Rams’ 2-0 win in the return leg not enough to topple the Tigers.
Sheffield Wednesday, meanwhile, have unexpectedly progressed all the way to the play-off final after a sluggish start to the season under manager Carlos Carvalhal.
The Owls only got stronger as the season progressed, though, ending the campaign in the last available play-off berth.
They defeated a bitterly disappointed Brighton & Hove Albion in the play-off semi-finals, with the Seagulls having missed out on a second-place finish to Middlesbrough by virtue of an inferior goal difference.
Bannan says he can’t wait to walk out at Wembley in front of almost 40,000 Owls fans https://t.co/GNq2zEe6Xo #swfc pic.twitter.com/RuSppm6HSY
— Sheffield Wednesday (@swfc) May 27, 2016
In team news, Tigers keeper Allan McGregor (back) remains on the treatment table, meaning Eldin Jakupovic will continue to deputise in his absence.
The Owls, meanwhile, boast a fully-fit squad and are likely to name an unchanged squad.