The Owls manager believes that his old club can still become a force in the Championship.

His mission tonight is to delay any immediate revival for Colin Calderwood's side and build on his own team's impressive 2-1 result at Charlton and sound start to the season.

"We're very pleased with the position we're in," said the Wednesday boss, with his team ninth in the table.

"The longer we can keep this momentum going, the more confidence we'll gain from it.

"We have a good record at home; we want to keep it intact. Since the last quarter of last season we have lost only a couple of home games; that tells us we are starting to turn things around at Hillsborough."

Laws also still believes that if Wednesday can maintain a top-10 spot then it will make them even more attractive to an investor and help them to bring in the sort of spending power enjoyed by Forest

He regards Wednesday and Forest as two of a kind: Famous clubs who are both striving to get back into the Premiership.

He said: "Forest slipped into League One and had to respond. They have responded. They have come back into the Championship and they want get back into the Premier League as quickly as possible. Sheffield Wednesday want to do the same.

"With the right backing and with finance put in place, this club can take off."

Laws believes that his opposite number has done a good job.

"Colin Calderwood was under pressure last season and succeeded; that shows he is a good manager," he said.

"Forest are a club who have spent £2.5m on one player, Rob Earnshaw. They haven't stood still. They'll certainly not be in the fodder at the bottom. They'll certainly be moving up the league.

"I can still see Forest being a real force this season, and they'll certainly have the finance.

"They just need that win under their belt. We don't want them to come to Hillsborough and get it.

"We know this is a great fixture; it always has been. I think it will be an open game, an attack-minded game and attractive to the eye."

Although Forest are bottom, Laws' reports on them suggest that they could easily have collected more than five points.

He said: "They've actually played really well. They haven't scored a lot of goals and the goals seem to have been from that one player, Earnshaw.

"Although he's not available against us, you know the team is strong enough when you have Andy Cole to come in. He's played at the top level.

"A player of his quality will score if you give him space."
Laws must decide whether the time is now right for Mark Beevers to return.

The defender, fit after a hamstring strain, was not in last Saturday's 16, but will definitely be in tonight's squad, said the manager.

"Whether he starts, you'll have to wait and see," Laws said. "Take away the Reading game, and for the rest of the time the defence have been excellent. It was a great opportunity not to have to force him back.

"Here we are, relying on an 18-year-old. That shows you he is a quality player."

Laws also acknowledges that Steve Watson is "an important part of the team" but a groin injury makes the club skipper a serious doubt tonight, and the ankle knock that Jermaine Johnson took at Charlton was a severe one.

Wade Small's problem last Saturday has been diagnosed as just cramp, after all, so he can be expected to start, maybe also offering a striker option.

But if Laws reverts to 4-4-2 then Deon Burton and Francis Jeffers look the more obvious contenders to play alongside Marcus Tudgay.

What do you think? Post your comments below.

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