With injuries starting to piling up and a three-day turnaround, Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom took the decision to freshen up his team for the trip to Millwall last weekend.
However, the move backfired on the Blades as they went down by a 1-0 scoreline at The Den, ending a nine-match undefeated streak which had lasted since January 18.
With at least one match in hand on several of the teams above them, the fate of Heckingbottom and his squad remains in their own hands, but they are under pressure to bounce back on Friday night.
Aside from a four-goal burst against Swansea City, the Yorkshire outfit have scored just once in their other four most recent fixtures, a sign that the team is perhaps overly reliant on Billy Sharp.
On a more positive note, Sheffield had kept five clean sheets in succession before conceding a second-half goal to the Lions last time out.
Nottingham Forest have made the headlines recently with victories over Arsenal and Leicester City in the FA Cup, but Steve Cooper will not be overly satisfied with their form in the Championship.
Although 11 points from six matches is a solid return at this stage of the season, the resurgence of some of their rivals has left Forest as outsiders to secure a playoff spot.
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That perception would change with a win at Bramall Lane, but Forest are following a number of wins in succession with inconsistency which could undermine their bid to finally return to the Premier League.
Last time out, Forest posted a 2-0 victory over Bristol City, becoming the first team in 13 attempts to prevent their opponents from scoring, while Brennan Johnson took his tally of goals and assists in the Championship this season to 16.
While Sheffield United only require a point to return to the playoffs, Forest need a maximum return on their visit to Yorkshire
