The Blades come into this fixture on top of a 4-0 defeat to Scunthorpe United in what can only be described as the most bizarre fixture ever witnessed which saw United denied of a goal with a penalty appeal was turned down. Adding to this was two strikes which smashed the post and the Iron cleared twice off the line.
Blades boss Gary Speed will be looking to get united back on track after that defeat; it was the first time they had lost by that score line at Bramall Lane since Sunderland cruised to victory during the 1998-99 campaign.
However he will be without trio Darius Henderson (knee), Ryan France (knee) and Lee Williamson (back) who are all sidelined
through injury and aren't expected to feature soon.
Likely Eleven: Simonsen, Calvé, Bartley, Nosworthy, Jordan, Ertl, Ward, Montgomery, Britton, Cresswell, Evans.
Bottom of the table Portsmouth travel to Bramall Lane this weekend after being handed a football lesson during their 4-1 defeat at Crystal Palace in midweek - James Vaughan who was linked with United netted a hat-trick on his home debut.
Forward John Utaka was a used substitute during there defeat at Selhurst Park last Tuesday but may be included in the starting eleven - replacing former Arsenal striker Nwankwo Kanu.
Midfielder Michael Brown will return to the Lane for the second time since his departure in January 2005. He was signed for £400,000 in January 2000 after a successful four game loan spell from Manchester City.
He had made his initial Blades debut in a 1-0 win over his current club (Paul Devlin on the score sheet) and then netted his first goal in united colours against former club City.
During his time at the Lane he netted spectacular goals, finding the net 36 times in 164 (+6) appearances before being sold to Tottenham Hotspur.
Other former Blade, Danny Webber (knee) is sidelined through injury and has yet to feature this season. Midfielder Aaron Mokoena and Full-Back Herman Hreidarsson are both also injured and won't feature.
Likely Eleven: Ashdown, Ward, Sonko, Rocha, Dickinson, Lawrence, Brown, Mullins, Nugent, Kanu, Kitson.