On loan goalkeeper Declan Rudd is hoping to end his time at Deepdale by claiming the final three points of the season.
The Norwich City custodian has been one of a number of outstanding contributors to North End’s revival over recent months and he is hoping his swan song for the Lilywhites is a pleasant one.
Speaking exclusively to PNE.Com Rudd said: “I’d like to sign off with a clean sheet. That is what every goalkeeper wants.
“If I keep a clean sheet in my last game that will be great, especially there as well because I don’t think many teams go there and keep a clean sheet.
“It would be good to not concede any goals but to get a win would obviously be just as good because like I said earlier, it would be finishing the season on a high and going into next season with confidence.
“On a personal level I think it has been a great loan spell for myself.
“Getting that run of games in competitive football is what I have been looking for over the last few years and for Preston to give me the opportunity to do that I have been very grateful and I have enjoyed every minute of it to be fair.
“The crowd have been brilliant, welcomed me in, made it easy for me to step out there and most of all the team seemed to welcome me in quickly and helped me get through the first couple of weeks which were hard because I didn’t know everyone, so it was really good and I have really enjoyed it.
“I have had a chance to settle in and have a run of 12 or 13 games in a team which has been successful so it’s been great to be a part of.
“Three weeks here and three weeks there would have been no good, I needed that loan to the end of the season to get games under my belt and I have really enjoyed it and it has been great.”
Saturday’s trip to Bramall Lane will see two of the league’s most established sides collide and with a big crowd expected, Rudd is looking forward to playing in the atmosphere this will generate.
“I am looking forward to the game on Saturday, it will be a good atmosphere,” added the stopper.
“Sheffield United will have a lot of fans there, the last home game of the season and they are in the Play-Offs, so yes I am looking forward to it.
“We should be taking a good amount of fans as well I have heard, so it will be a good day hopefully.
“It will be my last game for Preston, so I am looking forward to playing in it to be honest.
“Both teams are massive clubs; they are both underachieving at the minute and should be higher so it will be a good game.
“Obviously it’s the last game of the season but I don’t think it will be like a last game of the season game because they will want to keep their form up going into the Play-Offs and we want to finish with a win so it should be a good game to watch.
“Both teams lost on Tuesday night, both teams will be disappointed with that because you don’t want to finish the season losing games.
“Sheffield United will want to get a win under their belt before the Play-Offs start to get them going, so yeah it should be a good game, plenty of action and a good atmosphere.”
Along with Paul Connolly, Saturday’s contest will mark the end of Rudd’s time at Deepdale before he returns to parent club Norwich City and the PNE No.23 has not ruled out the possibility of a return to Lancashire in the future.
“The size of the club and the possibility would be great,” said Declan when asked about returning next season.
“I think next year the team is going to do really well, so we will just see what happens over the summer and you never know.”