Barnsley will be looking to end a run of just one win in 14 matches tomorrow when they host seventh-placed Fulham.
The New Year's Day success at Sunderland is the only time the Reds have won in almost three months while they are 19th in the Championship and two points clear of the relegation zone.
After winning 2-0 at home to Birmingham City on November 4, the Reds lost three successive home games then drew their next three while those six matches have seen them score just once. Only Birmimgham have scored fewer home goals than Barnsley who have 12 in 14 matches this season.
In mid-November, Fulham were just below Barnsley in 17th having not won in six matches. But they are now the form team in the Championship, having won eight out of their last 11 games, so they are 18 points clear of the Reds and just one place and point outside the play-offs.
The Cottagers' last six matches have brought a draw and five wins – including in each of the most recent three games – while they have netted 19 goals in that spell including a 6-0 win over Burton Albion on Saturday. Only leaders Wolves have more goals this season while no side has scored more away from home than Slavisa Jokanovic's men who have 23.
Barnsley lost 2-1 at Craven Cottage just 35 days before this meeting, on December 23 when Tom Bradshaw levelled midway through the second half but Sheyi Ojo won it four minutes later. The London club also did the double over the Reds last season while they have won four and drawn one of the five most recent meetings. While Fulham have a good recent record over the Reds, they have only won six times at Oakwell in 39 visits which have brought 23 defeats.
Heckingbottom said: "Over a long period of time they have been one of the form teams in the league. They had a massive win last weekend and they can be very dangerous and good on the ball. But we can take a lot of confidence from how we performed in our last game against them."
Ryan Hedges is back in training but there are several other players who will miss the match. Captain Angus MacDonald is on a course of tablets to treat his iron deficiency then is likely to have an iron infusion. Heckingbottom said: "We hope we have got to the bottom of a big problem and everyone is more positive about it now. We don't know when he will be back yet."
MacDonald's fellow centre-back Adam Jackson has been back in training but was due to see a surgeon this week. Winger Lloyd Isgrove is still not back in training after a dead leg kept him out of Saturday's loss at Aston Villa. Left-back Zeki Fryers is running but is yet to return to full training.
Joe Williams is set to serve the last match of his three-game suspension but Gary Gardner can return after being ineligible against parent club Aston Villa.
