When Sheffield Wednesday have to publish their retained list as Owls gear up for Sunderland test

Sheffield Wednesday's immediate focus is on the League One play-offs. A blockbuster two-legged semi-final clash against Sunderland is just around the corner.

The stakes are high, with the winner to face either Milton Keynes Dons or Wycombe Wanderers in a showpiece final at Wembley. A place in the Championship is on the line.

There will be over 40,000 at the Stadium of Light for Friday's first leg. A sold-out 2,000 away following will be cheering the team on in Wearside.

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How the Owls perform in the play-offs could have a big bearing on their plans for next season. Wednesday have a number of players, including Jack Hunt, Chey Dunkley, Massimo Luongo, Sam Huthinson and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, in the final months of their Owls deals.

Boss Darren Moore said: “Things are ongoing with the contracts. We’ve opened talks with one or two of the lads but it’s ongoing. It doesn’t take one day or a couple of weeks, it’s an ongoing process that will probably go on beyond the end of the season and into the earlier summer weeks.

“From our perspective we’re just focusing on the games, all that stuff is being taken care of. We’re coming together and we’re focusing on the game.”

Everything is up in the air as Wednesday are still unsure of their divisional status. Some big decisions will soon have to be made on a raft of senior players.

Clubs must notify players as to whether or not they are being retained by the third Saturday of May which falls on May 21 - the League One play-off final - this year.

Clubs involved in the play-offs following that date have until four days after their last match.

The EFL publishes the list by the second Saturday