Pride on the line for Saddlers boss
Walsall boss Chris Hutchings knows local pride will be on the line when Huddersfield visit the Banks's Stadium.
The Saddlers manager spent three years as a player with the Terriers before making the switch to Walsall in 1990, and still has a house in Yorkshire.
Lee Clark's side have little but pride to play for as they are nine points off the play-offs, with a vastly inferior goal difference, and three games left to play.
But for Hutchings three points is a priority for more than one reason.
He said: "I saw them play at Scunthorpe last week and they played very well and deservedly won the game, so it will be a tough call.
"They've got some tough players, Boothy (Andy Booth) scored on Saturday, the old stalwart. He's still going and I know him very well and no doubt he'll want to put one over on me.
"I've known him for a long time from my days when I played at Huddersfield, I still live in the area, so I'd better get a result otherwise I'll get a bit of banter when I go back."
The Saddlers are bidding for a top 10 finish, but face a Terriers side who have won their last three away games.
The visitors are also in form, two wins at Scunthorpe and at home to Carlisle over Easter have kept spirits high at the Galpharm Stadium.
Hutchings knows if the Terriers' away form had mirrored their home results, they would be in the play-offs.
He said: "Their home form has let them down a little. If they had decent home form then no doubt they would be right in the mix. I wish we had a few more points on the board and were in that scenario."
Hutchings could be without winger Sofiene Zaaboub who has fractured his little finger in training this week, but Clayton Ince is back following a family bereavement and Netan Sansara has recovered from a twisted ankle.
The Walsall boss said: "Sofi has a hairline fracture of his little finger but hopefully he'll be OK to play. He could wear some sort of protection on it.
"Netan has come through training the last few days so that's a plus for us. He hasn't played for three or four weeks though, so it would be a tough call to come straight back in."
Hutchings reiterated his desire for the Saddlers to keep their foot on the gas ahead of the final three games of the League One campaign.
He said: "It's not going to fizzle out – if one or two players don't give their all I won't be frightened to put the young boys in."
