Boyd has made 138 consecutive Football League appearances for the club but could miss out when Mark Cooper's strugglers welcome Ferguson back to London Road.
The Posh captain has not missed a league game since joining from Stevenage in January 2007 but limped out of the 2-1 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday and is a doubt to face North End.
Shaun Batt or Chris Whelpdale are options for Cooper should Boyd not be passed fit.
Central defender Ryan Bennett is available after missing the defeat at Hillsborough through suspension but Craig Morgan sits out the second instalment of a three-game ban and Gabriel Zakuani remains sidelined with a groin injury.
Ferguson surprisingly left Posh back in November after guiding them to back-to-back promotions and should be afforded a warm welcome from the club's fans.
Cooper said: "I'm sure some of my lads want Darren to come and buy them for Preston so they will need to play well."
