Despite beating Liverpool and Chelsea on their way to Wembley the Tykes came to a crash landing last Saturday when they lost 2-0 at Crystal Palace.
Barnsley boss Simon Davey is expected to see duo Martin Devaney (broken nose) and Marciano van Hoemet (ankle) return to the side after each recovered from there injuries respectively.
However the Reds are at time of writing experience somewhat of a keeper crisis, having allowed Nick Colgan (Ipswich town) to leave Oakwell and have since seen German shot stopper Heinz Muller injured until the rest of the season.
The club brought in Luke Steele (WBA) on loan, but his spell has now ended and has left both clubs in a transfer tussle - his alleged £8,000 a week wages being too much for the Yorkshire outfit, that means that rookie keeper Kyle Letheren is currently likely to be placed between the sticks.
The Reds are likely to feature former Sheffield United defender Robert Kozluk, the full-back joined the Tykes last summer after being released by the Bramall Lane club.
He was signed in March 1999 from Derby County in a deal which took Vassilis Borbokis to Pride Park with Kozluk and Jonathan Hunt coming ion return. During his time with United he made 215 (+21) starts and netted twice before leaving the club.
Possible Tykes Line-Up: Kyle Letheren, Marciano van Hoemet, Lewin Nyatanga, Dennis Souza, Stephen Foster (c), Robert Kozluk, Sam Togwell, Brian Howard, Kayode Odejayi, Istvan Ferenczi, Jonathan Macken.
Sheffield United made a record for this seasons campaign - winning three matches in a row. Victories against Plymouth Argyle (1-0) and Coventry City (2-1) was followed up by a fantastic 2-0 win over Norwich City at Bramall Lane last Saturday - Billy Sharp (52) and Matthew Kilgallon (56) netted quick fire goals to secure the league win.
James Beattie (groin) missed the victory over the Canaries and could miss the Blades trip to Oakwell with an injury, Rob Hulse is therefore likely to re-stake his place in the United line-up, with Billy Sharp as striking partner.
Winger Lee Martin (knee) will still be missing for the visitors as will forgotten midfielder Nick Montgomery (metatarsal) as both are injured.
Blades boss Kevin Blackwell will line up with former Barnsley skipper Chris Morgan in defence, the ex-Tyke will make his return to Oakwell for the first time since he left the club in July 2003.
He started out in the Reds youth team in August 1996 - making his debut at West Ham United in a 6-0 thrashing in January 1998, he went onto make 209 (+3) appearances and score 8 goals for his hometown club before being released.
Possible Blades Line-Up: Paddy Kenny, Derek Geary, Chris Morgan (c), Matthew Kilgallon, David Cotterill, Gary Speed, Michael Tonge, David Carney, Rob Hulse, Billy Sharp.
:: Man in the Middle ::
Referee: L. Probert (Gloustershire)
Assistants: G. Stott & R. Ganfield
Fourth Official: R. Shoebridge
- 02.11.2004 - Ipswich Town 5-1 Blades
- 09.04.2005 - Blades 3-2 QPR
- 13.09.2005 - Brighton & Hove Albion 0-1 Blades
- 13.01.2007 - Blades 1-1 Portsmouth
- 12.02.2008 - West Bromwich 0-0 Blades