Sheffield Weds v QPR: Tom Lees will embrace twists and turns that await Owls

That is what makes the next two and a half months – when he and his Sheffield Wednesday team-mates will largely be venturing into uncharted Championship waters far away from the sedate safety of mid-table – so alluring.

Now in his seventh season as a first-team regular in professional football, Lees, 25, has sampled just one exciting end to a campaign, during a loan spell at Bury in 2010-11 when Shakers were gunning for promotion from League Two.

Other than that, seasonal denouements have been somewhat tame and, even accounting for his experiences at Gigg Lane, they are not quite at the same level as a push for the Premier League.

Lees is part of what is shaping up to be one of the Championship’s most tantalising stories of the season.

The Owls’ ride to the play-off positions has been an enthralling one and could be set for a tumultuous climax.

Unflappable he may have been in the middle of the Wednesday back four since his arrival from Leeds United, but Lees is far more excitable when it comes to divulging his keen sense of anticipation ahead of the run-in for the Owls, who lie in fifth place ahead of tonight’s game.

Lees said: “It’s really good to be involved in something like this. In the last few seasons, when it has got to the last 10 games, we have not been able to go up or down.

“This time, we are in a position where we are fighting for something and it’s exciting. The games and crowds get bigger.

“You look at Saturday and it was a massive occasion and everyone was excited. It’s something that is good to be a part of and, as time goes on, it will only get bigger and the pressure will mount.

“It will be really interesting to see who holds their nerve.”

For someone not exactly well versed on dramatic seasonal finales, Lees still manages to speak with a sense of authority and knowledge on the subject.

His belief that the Owls should not stew over Saturday’s loss at Preston, played out in front of an expectant 5,500 travelling support, is borne out of good sense and perspective, with the club’s form having been consistently strong and dependable since the autumn.

Even given that the Owls will be without one of their match-winners tonight in the shape of the suspended Fernando Forestieri, it should represent no reason for panic according to Lees, consoled by the quality of those ready to step into the breach.

While Forestieri misses out following his dismissal at Deepdale, another creative force in Aiden McGeady is fit again, with Lucas Joao and Marco Matias representing other offensive options.

Lees added: “Taking away Saturday, we were probably the form side in the division. We have not got to forget that after one game.

“Preston were in good form and we have got to make sure we start a run again and we have lots of reasons to be positive.

“We are in a good run of form, are right in the play-off mix with a great squad and lots of options.

“I don’t think any team is going to go from now until the end of the season unbeaten.

“People are going to drop points all the time.

“When it comes to the last five or 10 games, there’s going to be lots of twists and people are going to get through dips in form.

“We will miss Nando because he is a great player. But lately people have not even been in the squad who are really good players for us and we have lots of options to fill the hole.”

Lees’s unequivocal belief that Wednesday’s defeat at Preston – their first in the Championship in 2016 – should be treated in isolation, with the bigger picture needing to be considered, is one shared by Wednesday’s head coach Carlos Carvalhal.

Given that the Owls have not suffered back-to-back league defeats since September 12 and have immediately responded with a victory following their previous three Championship setbacks, you sense the Portuguese would be quick to point the above out if pressed.

Carvalhal commented: “We have had some accidents, but cannot consider we have had a bad period.

“We have had balance all of the time and are in good shape, even after we have had accidents like all the teams.

“But we never had a period of three or four games where you can consider we have never played well and have lost and not played positive football.

“Our fans must be happy; at this moment they have not felt this.”

Last six games: Sheffield Wednesday DLDWWL QPR WDDWLD.

Referee: A Davies (Hants).

Last time: Sheffield Wednesday 3 QPR 0; March 18, 2014; Championship.