Despite heading into the game against Stoke City with only one defeat in eight games, Brian Laws' team are still hovering over the Championship trap door. But the Owls boss isn't overly concerned, as he believes the pressure is on those looking over their shoulders.

"We are playing well and have been in decent form and although we're still in the bottom three, it sounds silly but we are actually in a better position than we were," the manager said. "We've pulled ourselves in towards the teams above us and one win can put us above four teams. We are going in the right direction."

The corresponding fixture earlier this season at the Britannia Stadium saw the Owls win 4-2 and Laws wants more of the same at Hillsborough.

"We are going in to win it," he insisted. "We are not going to be overly worried about Stoke's aerial bombardment because we know it. We were very positive when we went to Stoke and stayed calm even though it got to 2-2 but we didn't panic and got the ball on the floor and we hurt them and that's something we have to take into this game."

Points from the next few fixtures are crucial if the Owls are to avoid relegation, especially from the crunch clash with relegation rivals Coventry, although Laws is not looking beyond Stoke at the moment - a game in which new loan striker Bartosz Slusarsky is set to feature.

"I have no worries about putting him straight into the squad. Slusarksy scored the other night for the reserves so he knows where the back of the net it is," Laws enthused.

This weekend could also see the return of midfielder Steve Watson given the veteran has come through three reserve outings unscathed. Jermaine Johnson is also available after his four-match ban.

Laws added: "It's nice to see Watson, who is an experienced player and a good player, back and also Jermaine Johnson after his lengthy suspension. Etienne Esajas is the forgotten man because he has been out for so long with his ankle injury but he is on his way back so it's good for us leading into our last eight games."

Despite featuring for the second string recently, right-back Frank Simek is still not ready for his return to the first team. Laws spoke of his own concerns over putting the American back in the side.

"With Frank Simek we have got to a stage where his ankle is still not right and I'm not convinced that it is 100 per cent. We all know Frank will play through the pain barrier but there comes a time when you have to be really careful to throw him in at the deep end. He's a quality player but while the team are doing ok, it gives me license to make absolutely sure that he's right."

Gaffer's Notes are brought to you in association with Derbyshire Building Society and The Owls Savings Account. Click here for more information.