The Blues, who recorded a 1-1 draw at Southampton last Saturday have lost just once at fortress Portman Road in sixteen games, that honour fell to Watford who won 2-1 on February 9th with goals from Tommy Smith and Nathan Ellington.
Since the Horses were stung by the Hornets the East Anglican outfit have beaten Blackpool 2-1 at home, with Jonathan Walters as the clubs highest scorer this season with twelve goals.
Town manger Jim Magilton may be unable to field former Sheffield United midfielder Alan Quinn after the Republic of Ireland international joined the club on loan before completing a £500,000 transfer in January 2008.
Quinn was brought to Bramall Lane by manager Neil Warnock in June 2004 following his release by City rivals Sheffield Wednesday and made a huge impact before leaving for Portman Road last month. He left the Lane having made 85 (+24) appearances for the Blades and netting eleven goals.
He made his Blues debut on 29 January in a 0-0 home draw with Plymouth Argyle before netting in a 2-1 victory at his former stomping ground, Hillsborough - and has made a further three appearances for his new club.
Possible Blues Line-Up: Stephen Bywater, Dan Harding, Jason De Vos, David Wright, Richard Naylor, David Norris, Tommy Miller, Velice Sumulikoski, Pablo Counago, Jonathan Walters, Alan Lee.
Sheffield United will be keen to make a repeat performance (and result) at Portman Road that they recorded on 6 November when the Blades road out a 3-1 victory against Town. James Beattie (33 & 72 minutes) netted a brace for the Blades whilst Keith Gillespie (86) added a third to record a three-one win, Jonathan Walters (54) had earlier handed the visitors a leveller.
However United fans will not be wishing for a repeat performance than what they had to endure last Saturday in the 2-0 home defeat to Charlton Athletic in which Chris Iwelumo (45) and Sam Sodje (82) netted goals to seal the win.
Blades boss Kevin Blackwell will have to do without Stephen Quinn who was handed a straight red card near the end of that gutless defeat; the midfielder will miss the fixtures against; Ipswich Town (a), Plymouth Argyle (a) and Coventry City (h).
Possible Blades Line-Up: Paddy Kenny, Derek Geary, Chris Morgan, Matthew Kilgallon, Chris Armstrong, David Cotterill, Michael Tonge, Gary Speed, David Carney, Rob Hulse, Luton Shelton.
:: Man in the Middle ::
Referee: Kevin Friend
Assistants: S. Artis & G. Hambling
4th Official: R. Whitton
- 24.02.2004 - Crewe Alexandra 0-1 Blades
- 25.02.2006 - Blades 2-3 Queens Park Rangers
- 22.09.2007 - Crystal Palace 3-2 Blades