Sheffield United have yet to win a League One fixture since Boxing Day when they recorded a 3-0 win over Scunthorpe United but back to back home defeats to Hartlepool United (2-3) and Yeovil Town (0-2) have left the Blades fourth in the table and six points from automatic promotion.
It has been noted that United haven't had a great start to 2013, one which Blades boss Danny Wilson is keen to overturn. He told BBC Radio Sheffield; "We're not playing as well as we can. We can do a lot better than we have been doing recently. When you have a setback like we've had then you have a lot of soul searching to do because we were very poor on Saturday. We've got some good characters at this club but I think we're just missing some experience. They've had double or even triple covers on the pitch and they're desperate to get the game on and so are we."
However, United have had a successful time at Meadow Lane in recent times, on there last two outings the Blades have scored nine goals after recording a 5-2 win in last seasons league fixture and a 4-2 win earlier this season in the Johnstone' Paint Trophy, on that night Harry Maguire and Shaun Miller both netted a brace. We have already met at Bramall Lane this season, drawing 1-1.
Blades boss Danny Wilson is without defender Neill Collins (broken cheekbone) and striker Shaun Miller (cruciate knee ligament), meanwhile keeper Mark Howard (thigh) and defender Lescinel Jean-Francois (knee) have returned to training but are unlikely to see first team action soon. Whilst fellow defender Matt Hill (broken jaw) is also ruled out and expected to return to training at the beginning of March.
Blades boss Danny Wilson is likely field Kevin McDonald to face his former club. He joined Meadow Lane on loan from Burnley in February 2011 until the end of the season - making his debut in a 2-0 home defeat to Exeter City and went onto make 10 (+1) appearances for the Magpies.
Nott's County saw last Saturday's fixture at Portsmouth postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, leaving there New Years Day defeat at home to Milton Keynes Dons (1-2) there last match action, having gone almost three weeks without a fixture has left the Magpies 14th (36 points) in the table with three games in hand over United - however they are without a league win since 24th November 2012 when they beat Swindon Town by a single goal.
Magpies boss Keith Curle is hopeful of naming a fully fit squad against the Blades this weekend but since there last encounter have seen Chris Iwelumo (Watford, loan ended), Carl Regan (Released), Tom Williams (Released), Lee Hughes (Port Vale), Jordan Stewart (Released) and Damion Stewart (Released) have all leave the club. Jordan Stewart was formerly on the books of United, whilst Williams acted as a trial player under the reign of Kevin Blackwell.
Meanwhile the club have completed the full transfer of Andre Boucaud from Blue Square Premier League side Luton Town and is likely to make his second debut against the Blades tomorrow.