Middlesbrough are currently in the final Championship play-off spot in a tight battle for the top six at the midway point of the season.
They are level on points with seventh-placed West Bromwich Albion while just five points separate fifth-placed Blackburn Rovers and ninth-placed Sheffield Wednesday.
The Owls travel to the Riverside having won two games in a row whereas Boro have won just once in their past four games.
Middlesbrough have won three of their last five league matches against Sheffield Wednesday (D1 L1) and won 2-0 at the Riverside last season.