Sheffield Wednesday play host to Newcastle United at Hillsborough in a huge Championship clash on Saturday evening.

The Owls looked nailed to cement a spot in the play-off positions following a fine run at the start of 2017, but a sequence of just one win in seven matches saw them slip out of the top six last weekend.

However, after they won 2-0 at already-relegated Rotherham United on Tuesday night, they leapfrogged Fulham to move back into sixth and manager Carlos Carvalhal will know that they must keep picking up points in order to stay there.

They certainly won’t face an easy task against the top-of-the-table Magpies though, who moved closer to securing an instant return to the Premier League as they beat Burton Albion 1-0 at St James’ Park on Wednesday night.

Rafa Benitez’s men are 10 points clear of third-placed Huddersfield Town, and a win in Yorkshire would put them on the brink of promotion.

Here are FIVE key battles that will decide the huge Championship clash…

Carlos Carvalhal vs Rafa Benitez

Ah, Portugal vs. Spain - always an interesting battle.

It was one that Carvalhal came out on top on earlier in the season when the Owls beat Newcastle 1-0 at St James’ Park in December, with Glenn Loovens scoring the goal that separated the sides.

However, Benitez will be out for revenge and after guiding the Magpies to 42 points on the road this term – 10 more than any other Championship side – he will be confident that his team have the ability to take all three points at Hillsborough.

Tom Lees vs Dwight Gayle

The Owls defender has established himself as one of the best centre-backs in the Championship in recent seasons, but he will face one of his toughest tests of the campaign when he comes up against Gayle on Saturday.

The striker has scored 22 league goals this term – at a rate of one every 96 minutes – and even though the 26-year-old has netted just once in his last five games, he will be a huge threat at Hillsborough.

Steven Fletcher vs Jamaal Lascelles

Fletcher had gone 13 Championship matches without a goal – a run that began in the win at St James’ Park in November – before he was given a rare 2017 start against Rotherham on Tuesday night.

The Scottish striker took advantage of his opportunity by scoring both of his side’s goals in the 2-0 win, which is sure to mean that he keeps place in the side for the visit of the Magpies.

Newcastle captain Lascelles will know that the Owls attacker will come into the clash in confidence after ending his goal drought, and he will need to keep a close eye on the 30-year-old.

Morgan Fox vs Matt Ritchie

Some people were surprised when Ritchie decided to drop down to the Championship with Newcastle after some impressive Premier League showings with Bournemouth, but he is on the verge of returning to the top flight after a brilliant season.

The 27-year-old has scored 15 goals in all competitions for the Magpies – including two in his last two Championship matches – and he is fine form going into the clash at Hillsborough.

Meanwhile, left-back Fox missed the game against Rotherham in midweek and he faces a tough test on his return to the starting line-up.

Fernando Forestieri vs Jonjo Shelvey

Forestieri is arguably Sheffield Wednesday’s key man and they have certainly missed him in the last few weeks because of a knee injury.

The 27-year-old hasn’t played since the draw against Burton Albion at the start of March but looks set to return to the side for the visit of Newcastle this weekend – a huge boost for Carvalhal considering he has scored 11 goals and provided five assists in 30 Championship appearances.

He is likely to be used behind the striker for the visit of the Magpies, and it could be down to the impressive Shelvey to keep a close watch on the Italian.

This is certainly going to be a key battle between two of the best players in the division.