Sheffield Wednesday finished in the play offs last season finishing just short of promotion and this season sit just outside the top six as Preston are a few places and points lower down in the table.
Last season both games were a defining point in Preston's season and North End will be hoping that they can impress against the play off chasing club.
The defeat at Hillsborough last season was probably Preston's worst performance of the season. Preston started the game with Paddy McArthur (remember him?) alongside Clarke at the back due to injuries and suspension.
McArthur gave one of the shortest debuts in history as he went off injured early in the first half with his loan spell ending with it as he was promptly returned to Crystal Palace.
The dire situation forced an odd central defensive pairing of Woods and Clarke. They were at fault for the first goal allowing the ball to bounce over their heads. Welsh was unusually at fault for the second with awful play in the box whilst Pickford took most of the blame for the third.
It was a horrendous performance and afternoon in Sheffield but from that defeat came a run of significance based on a patched up defence. From that game in october through to February, Preston went on a remarkable run which hauled them up the table close to the top six.
Towards the end of that run was Preston's best performance of the season in a one nil victory at home to Sheffield Wednesday. Preston held off a strong visiting line up and secured an impressive three points.
It was almost job done after the home victory as Preston ahd achieved their aim of safety with almost a third of the seaosn to go and the season tailed off.
Maybe Sheffield Wednesday just bring the best and worst out of Preston but hopefully North End can continue their impressive run of having only lost to Newcastle since mid-September when they travel to South Yorkshire on Saturday.