Leeds and Wednesday, separated by two points in 12th and ninth respectively, clash at Elland Road in Saturday's early game.
Stuart Gray masterminded a 6-0 Wednesday victory in the sides' last meeting in January – a club-record victory over Leeds which helped him land the reins on a permanent basis.
Darko Milanic has overseen a 2-0 loss at Brentford and a goalless draw at home to Reading since assuming the Leeds hot-seat, and he has stressed how crucial a derby win is to his team's season.
"It's extremely important," said the former Slovenia captain. "Sheffield play a different game and it will be difficult. They have one day more to regenerate, but we have to do our best."
Frenchman Souleymane Doukara and his Italian strike partner Mirco Antenucci have scored two goals apiece in Leeds' previous four outings, while Wednesday have 21-year-old forward Stevie May high on confidence after he received his maiden senior Scotland call-up on Tuesday.
Nottingham Forest, spearheaded by the division's eight-goal leading marksman Britt Assombalonga, aim to protect their unbeaten record against visiting Ipswich Town, who have taken 13 points from a possible 15.
The London outfit have put together three successive wins in all competitions under caretaker-manager Kit Symons, including Wednesday's 4-0 thrashing of Bolton Wanderers.
"That performance and result certainly won't do me any harm," Symons remarked on his hopes of landing the Fulham post permanently. "When I took over in I tried to galvanise the club and get everyone pulling together, and to start winning games, and on both counts it's going pretty well so far."
Bolton manager Dougie Freedman knows anything less than victory at home to Bournemouth could cost him his job, while Jose Riga is also under pressure as his winless Blackpool side host Cardiff City in Friday's game.
