Bolton v Tranmere Rovers
John Aldridge has already experienced the pain of falling at the semi-final hurdle four times with Tranmere and the Rovers manager has no intention of completing a nap hand of Wembley near-misses against Bolton.
Tranmere face their Division One rivals in the first leg of their League Cup last-four tie at the Reebok Stadium tonight buoyed by their safe passage to the fifth round of the FA Cup following their controversial defeat of Sunderland.
Now only Wanderers, one place below the Wirral club in the table, stand between Aldridge's men and their first Wembley appearance since the 1991 Second Division play-off final when ironically they beat Bolton.
Wayne Allison - who scored the winner against Sunderland on Saturday - is cup-tied for tonight's game, while Nick Henry and Jason Koumas are both banned.
Scott Taylor is likely to replace Allison up front, while Alan Mahon and Alan Morgan could come into midfield.
Bolton manager Sam Allardyce yesterday pleaded with Bolton's stay-away fans to turn up in numbers and help their team take another step on the road to Wembley.
The match is live on local television, but Allardyce is urging supporters to roar Bolton on in a bid to aid their cause.
He said yesterday: "I don't know what excuses the fans have got not to come tomorrow night. I think to push the team with the vocal support is very important for any team. . . The atmosphere gives you an extra stimulation to perform better.
"On the night I hope it's an exciting game because it's a semi-final. I hope it's worthy of our teams being in the semi-final to show how strong the first division is."
Paul Warhurst could make a surprise return from a hamstring injury for Bolton and Gudni Bergsson will play after missing the game at Grimsby through injury.
But Gareth Farrelly is cup-tied, and Mark Fish is with South Africa on African Nations Cup duty, while Robbie Elliott and Keith Branagan are still absent.
Quarter-Final
Leicester V Fulham
Leicester City manager Martin O'Neill has warned midfielder Robbie Savage that he will face disciplinary action if there is a repeat of the challenge he made on Arsenal striker Kanu in Sunday's FA Cup tie.
Savage has apologised for the tackle on the Nigerian international which O'Neill admits deserved to receive a red card rather than a booking from referee Mike Riley.
Midfielder Neil Lennon has added to O'Neill's injury problems after suffering a recurrence of hamstring trouble and he will have a late fitness test.
Striker Emile Heskey will again be pressed into action, despite still not having fully recovered from flu and also amid speculation of a move to Liverpool. But Tim Flowers, Muzzy Izzet and Steve Guppy are still sidelined.
O'Neill admitted: "It's not the best situation we've been in, but we will have the requisite numbers on the field.
"In fact, I'm going to try and sneak one or two extra on to the field. It's been done - and it's worked!"
Fulham's Geoff Horsfield has pitted his wits against plenty of Premiership players since moving to Craven Cottage - but it is two Leicester stars that he dreams of emulating.
The former brickie would love to follow in the boot-prints of Matt Elliott and Steve Guppy from non-league football to the international stage.
The Cottagers continued their incredible run of cup success against Premiership opposition by dumping Wimbledon out of the FA Cup, 3-0, on Saturday.
Horsfield said: "Leicester have done well in this competition. They're a good cup side as well as a good league side. They've done tremendously well over recent seasons.
"They've some good players and I admire Emile Heskey."
Horsfield's strike partner Barry Hayles, another non-league graduate, terrorised Wimbledon with a superb FA Cup performance but is suspended tonight.
Influential midfield duo Lee Clark and Kevin Ball are also missing. Clark is suspended; Ball is cup-tied, and manager Paul Bracewell has doubts over injured Karlheinz Riedle, Alan Neilson and Sean Davis.
