The Philadelphia 76ers will be squaring off against a tough Boston Celtics team. As the Sixers battle to secure a better position in the East, they will be happy to know that Al Horford is a likely inclusion to the team.

Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the big man should be able to line up beside Joel Embiid after missing their last game against the Atlanta Hawks.

Despite Horford's recent injury, he's actually been one of the tougher members of the Sixers roster. He's only missed five out of the 49 games the Sixers played this season, and he's been a force in all of the games he's played.

His averages of 12.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.0 assists on 45%/32%/72% shooting splits is a good indicator of his efficiency on the floor. The news of him being close to full health should more than delight Joel Embiid.

Looking at the matchup between the two division rivals, the Sixers have easily dominated. The latest game they played — a 109-98 win at the Wells Fargo Center — saw Horford perform at his best. He finished the game with 17 points, eight rebounds, six assists, a steal, and two blocks over 32 minutes of action. The Celtics were unable to stop him on his own, and it's very likely that things will only get worse for Boston once Embiid and Horford are playing together again.

The Sixers are located in a weird spot in the Eastern Conference, as their dip in form saw them descend to sixth in the East. If they want to climb back to the top seeds, they need to play better basketball. Horford's return promises that and more.