Sheffield United roll into this one off the back of a 3-1 friendly win over Huddersfield at Bramall Lane. That result tells you plenty. The Blades found the net three times, they looked sharp in the final third, and they did it on their own patch — the same patch they'll be defending on Friday night. Pre-season form can be misleading, sure, but goals breed confidence, and confidence is currency in the Championship. Sheffield United are a club that knows how to grind, but that Huddersfield performance suggests they're also willing to open up and play. That's a dangerous combination for any visiting side.

Birmingham, meanwhile, served up a 2-2 draw with Barcelona. Yes, Barcelona. In a friendly. That's a headline result, but let's not get carried away. Friendlies against giants are often open, end-to-end affairs with heavy rotation and tired legs. What it does tell us is that Birmingham have some attacking ambition and won't just sit in. They'll come to Bramall Lane believing they can score. But here's the thing — belief without structure gets you punished in this league. Birmingham are a club on the rise, with new ownership and a shiny redeveloped St Andrew's, but they're still finding their identity at this level. Sheffield United, by contrast, are seasoned Championship operators who know exactly what it takes to win ugly.