Watford v Blackpool preview

Team news for Good Friday's Championship clash between Watford and Blackpool at Vicarage Road.

Adrian Mariappa will again watch from the stands as Watford host Blackpool on Good Friday. The centre-back has missed the club's last three matches with an ankle injury and will continue to sit out against the Seasiders, although manager Sean Dyche remains hopeful he will play again this season. Otherwise, the Hornets boss has a full-strength squad to select from as his side aim to extend their seven-match unbeaten run and continue their late surge for a play-off place. Chris Iwelumo will keep his place in attack having marked his recall against Leeds last weekend with a brace to secure an impressive 2-0 victory at Elland Road. Dyche is unlikely to make any changes to his starting line-up at a sell-out Vicarage Road for a game which, if Watford were to win, would see them move within three points of their opponents. Blackpool's veteran striker Kevin Phillips will face a late fitness test. The Seasiders' top scorer missed out on last weekend's 3-0 win over former club Southampton due to ankle and hip soreness. Phillips might have to be content with a place on the bench at Vicarage Road - where he started his professional career in 1994 - as Gary Taylor-Fletcher and Stephen Dobbie combined well in attack against the npower Championship leaders, the latter bagging a brace on his first start since returning to Blackpool on loan from Swansea last month. Fellow forward Roman Bednar will remain on the sidelines and the West Brom loanee could miss the rest of the season with damaged knee ligaments. Captain Barry Ferguson and left-back Stephen Crainey were rested against the Saints and return to manager Ian Holloway's plans. Blackpool head into the Easter weekend in the play-off places, lying fifth ahead of Brighton and Middlesbrough on goal difference.