They have won their first three games, and a fourth victory would make it their strongest opening since 1933.

The Lillywhites have beaten Ipswich 2-1 away, Chesterfield 2-0 at home in the Carling Cup, and Crystal Palace 2-0 at home. That makes it their best start in nine years.

Manager Alan Irvine said: "It has been a fantastic beginning for us. Everyone is feeling really good about themselves.

"They were feeling good as a result of a very good pre-season and this has simply reinforced that.

"The lads believe in what we did in pre-season, they believe in themselves and in what they are doing for each other.

"There is a great deal of optimism about the place after such a good start.

"But that's all it is, a start."

Irvine inspired a Preston revival last season; like Wednesday, they struggled for much of the campaign and it was a big game for both clubs when they clashed at Hillsborough on New Year's Day.

Wednesday trailed 1-0 at half-time but won 2-1 with goals from Akpo Sodje and Francis Jeffers (penalty) and went up to 19th, while Preston were plunged to the bottom of the table.

The result also avenged a September 1-0 defeat for the Owls at Deepdale.

The Lillywhites revived with a haul of five wins and a draw from six of their games in March, and held down 15th place for the last six weeks of the season.

Wednesday's last-day win against Norwich left them only one point and one place behind Preston in the final table.

While the Owls have lost four players over the course of their first two League games, Preston's most experienced performer, full-back Callum Davidson, limped off during the Palace game last Saturday in the second half with a knee injury.

It meant he was unable to figure in Scotland's friendly against Northern Ireland on Wednesday after being named in the squad for the first time in six years. A scan removed fears that he could face a long absence.

Preston's midfield includes midfielder Barry Nicholson, who was linked with the Owls in the summer as his contract at Aberdeen came to an end.

Brian Laws admitted having made an inquiry about the Scotland international but said he had not made an offer, and the Wednesday manager's search for two midfield players brought Jimmy Smith and James O'Connor to Sheffield instead.

Nicholson scored his first goal for Preston in last week's match against Palace. Another summer signing, Ross Wallace from Sunderland, was on the bench.

Striker Neil Mellor has a fondness for the Owls - he was born in Sheffield and is the son of former Wednesday star Ian Mellor, who works for the PFA.

Neil, aged 25, came through Liverpool's youth system and was signed by Preston two years ago.

He was their top scorer last season with 10 goals, which included a double in a 3-1 Deepdale win against Sheffield United in March. and hit both goals in this month's 2-0 Cup win at Chesterfield.

Laws said of Preston: "They've started ever so well. They started poorly, like us, last season, and will have wanted to turn that around.

"They'll be buoyant. They'll be coming to us with confidence. But it's our home game."

Midfielder Sean McAllister says that the Owls are bidding to get back to the standards they showed in the 4-1 opening-day win against Burnley and the first half of last week's setback at Wolves.

And McAllister has a mission at a personal level - to hang on to his midfield spot despite competition from James O'Connor, Steve Watson and Jimmy Smith.

McAllister said: "There's a lot of competition for midfield places. I'm delighted to have that shirt and I won't be giving it up without a fight."


THE TEAMS
OWLS (possible): Grant; McMahon, Wood, Beevers, Spurr; Johnson, O'Connor, McAllister, Esajas; Burton, Tudgay
(4-4-2).

PRESTON (possible): Lonerghan; Jones, Mawene, St Ledger, Hill; Nicholson, Chaplow, McKenna, Sedgwick; Mellor, Whaley. (4-4-2).

What do you think? Post your comments below.

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