Irvine is anticipating torture at Palace as Sheffield Wednesday sweat

The Owls, who won promotion to the Championship five years ago, slumped to a third defeat in four games at Cardiff City at the weekend.

With Watford securing survival courtesy of victory over Reading, it leaves Palace and the Owls in a straight fight to avoid the drop with already relegated Plymouth Argyle and Peterborough United.

If Palace, who are due to visit Hillsborough next weekend, win tonight they will move four points clear of the Owls and be safe. If they fail to win, however, it will set up a nail-biting last-day scrap for survival between the two clubs.

Manager Alan Irvine, who spent three years playing for Palace in the Eighties, will attend tonight's game at Selhurst Park preying for an away win or a draw.

"I could hide and stay at home and watch the game on TV but that's not the way I do my job," he said. "I will go to the game hoping that Palace don't get a win.

"Everyone is very, very low in the dressing room. If Palace win on Monday night, that's it.

"Time will tell whether we have anything to play for next Sunday. We are hoping but we can't control it now.

"It could be that we have a chance to do something about it. If we do have that chance, it's important that we remember how we felt (on Saturday) after this defeat."

Although West Brom are promoted and can no longer catch Newcastle, manager Roberto Di Matteo has stated a firm desire to extend his club's 10-game unbeaten run and beat the club's record points tally of 89.

Irvine said: "That is the great thing about this country's football. It is honest. Nothing affects how a team will go about its job and that is something that gives us hope."

A goal from winger Jermaine Johnson had given the Owls the perfect start on Saturday but the lead lasted less than two minutes before Peter Whittingham equalised for Cardiff from a free-kick.

The Bluebirds had already secured play-off qualification and, although manager Dave Jones rested three players, still looked hungry and determined to maintain momentum.

Jay Bothroyd took advantage of poor defending to put Cardiff ahead early in the second half before Marcus Tudgay equalised for the Owls with just 11 minutes to play. However, for the second time in the game, the Owls conceded immediately after scoring, only this time there was no way back.

Irvine and his squad were due to attend the club's Player of the Year dinner last night at Hillsborough but will have been in no mood to party.

Winger Johnson faces a race against time to be fit for next weekend's game after coming off at half-time against Cardiff with hamstring trouble.