Preview: Bolton Wanderers vs. Barnsley

Barnsley will be hoping to pick up crucial points in their survival bid when they visit a Bolton Wanderers side who have lost only once in 11 Championship matches.

The Trotters have recovered from a 10-game winless run at the start of the season to climb the table, but Barnsley remain deep in relegation trouble.

Danny Wilson's side were left rock bottom when they were beaten 3-1 by Wanderers on Boxing Day, and they have only moved up one place in the table since then.

They are five points adrift of safety, although they have played a game fewer than all of their rivals, except for Charlton Athletic, ahead of their trip to the Reebok Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

However, having previously had the division's worst away record, the Tykes won at Reading and Yeovil Town in their last two matches on the road and may approach the game with cautious optimism.

Kelvin Etuhu could return from suspension to play at right-back in a defence which is likely to be missing Martin Cranie, who faces a late fitness test on a hamstring strain picked up last month.

Jim O'Brien will not feature again this season, and while there is better news on the fitness of David Fox and 20-year-old forward Marcus Pedersen, neither is expected to be in the squad this weekend.

Bolton boss Dougie Freedman will again leave out winger Chris Eagles, who seems to have no future at the club, while Marc Tierney and injury-ravaged midfielder Stuart Holden are enforced absentees.

The hosts are likely to continue with two up front in the form of Joe Mason, who has notched in successive games, and Lukas Jutkiewicz. The 4-4-2 system probably leaves no room for top scorer Andre Moritz.

Recent form

Bolton: WWDWDL

Barnsley: LDWWLL

Possible starting lineups

Bolton: Bogdan; Hutton, Wheater, Knight, Ream; Chung-Yong, Medo, Spearing, Danns; Mason, Jutkiewicz

Barnsley: Steele; Etuhu, Crainie, Nyatanga, Kennedy; Jennings, Cwyka, Lawrence, Dawson; McCourt; O'Grady

Sports Mole says: 2-0