After putting five past Grimsby at the weekend, including excellent strikes by trialist Ricardo Vaz Te and Jacob Butterfield, the Reds host neighbours Sheffield Wednesday this evening as Keith Hill continues Barnsley’s preparations for the first match of the season a week on Saturday against Nottingham Forest.

With Wednesday and their city-rivals Sheffield United now both in League One, this so-called friendly game represents something of an opportunity to get back a South Yorkshire derby that has been lost this season.

As Hillsborough is the closest league ground to Oakwell, Sheffield Wednesday are (arguably) Barnsley’s biggest rivals by default, and while this rivalry may not be reciprocated, the Owls will certainly not want to lose the game even though there is nothing at stake and a relatively large number of them are expected to make the short journey.

Kieth Hill has stated publicly that he feels he needs two more players to give his squad the strength and depth to start the season – this evening Kyel Reid, who played for the Reds on loan in 2006/07, is expected to be given a run-out after joining Barnsley on trial.  Reid was released by Charlton Athletic at the end of last season.

The trialist briefly known as ‘Fernando’, Ricardo Vaz Te, should get another opportunity to impress the Barnsley management this evening with Hill still considering whether to offer the former Bolton Wanderers player a contract.

Keith Hill has described Vaz Te as a ‘box of tricks’, but given that a lot of his tricks don’t always work he probably isn’t the type of player that the Barnsley manager had in mind although Vaz Te does appear to have the ability to win matches and create opportunities out of nothing – his 30-yard free-kick on Saturday was against a Conference side but would most likely have beaten any defence and goalkeeper.

If you’re still undecided on whether to attend this evening, tickets are available on the gates at £12 for adults and £6 for concessions – the match kicks-off slightly earlier than a usual evening game at 7.30pm.