The game against the Villa will be broadcast live on SKY television and Wanderers will be hoping to put on a good show in front of the nation. However they have yet to score this season away from the Reebok Stadium and will be facing a Villa side who have an exemplorary home record having been undefeated on home soil this season.
Bolton have an injury doubt over Frenchman Youri Djorkaeff who has a calf strain but it is expected that the former Inter Milan player will overcome a late fitness test to make the game. Fellow countrymen Florent Laville (knee) and Ibrahim Ba (calf) will be missing for the Wanderers. Midfielder Stelios Giannakopoulos may come back into contention having missed the draw with Wolves with a slight knock but if the Greek International doesn't make it then Sam Allardyce is expected to stick with Henrik Pedersen. Mario Jardel will once again be on the substitutes bench despite scoring six goals in the space of a week.
Villa are boosted by the return to training of Olaf Mellberg and Ronny Johnsen but David O'Leary must decide whether to recall the defensive duo or stick with Alpay, who has come under critisism from the Villa crowd and Dion Dublin who did well as a makeshift centre half in the defeat by Chelsea last week. England striker Darius Vassell will be pushing Marcus Allback for a place alongside Juan Pablo Angel up front.
Bolton reserve keeper Kevin Poole began his career with Aston Villa over 20 years ago whilst another Wanderer Gareth Farrelly, who is currently on loan to Burnley played for Villa in the mid-1990's.
Wanderers have lost on their last two visits to Villa Park, their last and only Premiership win on the ground came in 1998 when goals from ex-Villa defender Neil Cox, Bob Taylor and Nathan Blake gave Bolton a 3-1 win with Ian Taylor replying for Villa. David O'Leary's men will fancy their chances given their decent home record but Wanderers have been known to spring a surprise or two on their travels.
KICK OFF IS AT 16:05 LIVE ON SKY TELEVISION
PLAYED FOR BOTH
FRANZ CARR
NEIL COX
SASA CURCIC
GARETH FARRELLY
STUART GRAY
JOHN GREGORY
KEVIN POOLE
BRYAN SMALL
ALAN THOMPSON