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Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce is able to call upon Steve Howey and Jon Otsemobor after both missed last weekend's trip to Cardiff. Midfielder Stelios Giannakopoulos is also pushing for a starting place having recently recovered from an ankle injury. Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts will also be in the squad having seen a loan move to Crystal Palace blocked.
Blues manager Steve Bruce has long term concerns over David Dunn (hamstring) and Jamie Clapham (shingles) but there could be a return on the cards for former West Ham United winger Stan Lazaridis who has missed the last three games due to a hamstring injury. Aliou Cisse is available after suspension whilst Damien Johnson plays the last game before a ban.
Birmingham have a decent home record at St Andrews having lost just one game in the last six on home turf so Wanderers will have to be at their best to force a result in the Midlands. Bolton's last win on the road came just over a month ago when goals from Henrik Pedersen and Kevin Nolan gave the Trotters a 2-1 win over Charlton Athletic at The Valley. City took advantage of Middlesbrough's Carling Cup hangover by beating the Teesiders 3-1 during midweek. Martin Taylor got his first goal since his move from Blackburn Rovers whilst the highly contraversial Robbie Savage and top goalscorer Mikael Forssell netted the other goals.
Wanderers will know all about Birmingham for it was the Blues who ended Bolton's eight month unbeaten spell at the Reebok Stadium in October thanks to a singular goal by Forssell. It is sure to be a very open contest between two teams similarly placed in the league table. Bolton need to bounce back from last week's disappointment and get their league form back on track whilst Brum are aiming to keep their good home record in tact.
PLAYED FOR BOTH
SIMON CHARLTON
TONY EVANS
PAUL FITZPATRICK
BOB HATTON
DAVID HOLDSWORTH
ALLAN JOHNSTON
ANDY KENNEDY
JIM MCDONAGH
TREVOR MORGAN
JAMIE POLLOCK
KEVIN POOLE
ISAIAH RANKIN
JOHN SHERIDAN
BRYAN SMALL
STUART STORER
GORDON TAYLOR
NEIL WHATMORE
FRANK WORTHINGTON
OTHER CONNECTIONS
BARRY FRY
COLIN TODD