BRIAN Laws expects a boost from Wade Small as the Owls boss bids to keep up a 100 per cent record against Nottingham Forest tonight.
Laws has won all four games as a manager against his old club, all for Scunthorpe in League One.
He feared that Small, who went off at Charlton on Saturday after scoring a great goal, had suffered a recurrence of a long-standing hamstring injury.
But now he says the problem was only cramp and there is a good chance of the winger playing tonight.
Laws relishes the visit of the club where he spent six successful years as a player in the Brian Clough era.
"I've had four wins out of four against them as a manager," he said.
"In my first game back, I got a standing ovation; come the end, I got slaughtered because we beat them 4-0!
"Hopefully we can win tonight and make it five out of five."
But he does not take the task lightly as he believes that newly-promoted Forest, who showed spending power in the summer, will rise from the bottom of the table this season and can establish themselves as a Championship force.
Laws may also have to make changes, with doubts over Steve Watson (groin) and Jermaine Johnson (ankle).
Mark Beevers and Francis Jeffers are among the options along with Deon Burton and possibly Etienne Esajas.
Small, delighted to be back, said: "We need to take the win into tonight's game and push on now because we have the players to do well.
"We're certainly good enough to cause most teams problems."
Last week Laws told how he felt that Burton was looking jaded after his travels with Jamaica, but the striker made an impression on his boss in his outing as a sub on Saturday.
"Deon has responded to being left out. He was outstanding," Laws said.
"He'll be determined to play against Forest."
Laws also admits that Jeffers is "very close" to a start. The Owls have tended to go with one up front or use Johnson in a front two in recent games but if he is out then it opens the possibility of a return for Jeffers or Burton.
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