Boss Jim Magilton again has decisions to make in his midfield ahead of Sunday's live Sky clash at home to Crystal Palace (KO 1.15pm). Town will be looking to continue their positive start to the league season.
Magilton switched his side's shape to a 4-3-3/4-5-1 at Plymouth last week with Jon Walters and Alan Lee playing as wider strikers, retreating more deeply when the Blues weren't in possession.
At home against the Eagles, Town are likely to revert to their more usual 4-4-2. The left-sided midfield role is the main area of question with George O'Callaghan, Tommy Miller and Owen Garvan all playing central roles at Home Park.
Magilton could push Garvan wider, where he played late on in the Carling Cup game at the MK Dons, or he could move the Irishman into the middle with O'Callaghan missing out. The former Cork man did well at Plymouth and is not expected to be kept out of action by a rib injury sustained against the Pilgrims.
Gary Roberts started the first two matches on the left but is unlikely to be recalled, while Jaime Peters could make his first senior appearance of the season, but probably from the bench, with Jon Walters continuing on the right. Gavin Williams will be out until December after injuring ankle ligaments against Panathinaikos.
The Blues are unlikely to be changed at the back with Neil Alexander having returned from Scotland where he was an unused sub in their full international victory over South Africa earlier this week.
Dan Harding will be on the left, David Wright on the right with Jason De Vos and Alex Bruce in the centre. Town will be without Fabian Wilnis, who starts a three-match ban for his red card at Plymouth. Danny Haynes doesn't start his ban of a similar length for his sending off in the reserves until after the weekend.
Town are without Richard Naylor, who is unavailable until early September after undergoing toe surgery. The Blues are not actively looking for loan cover at the back while Naylor and proposed new signing César Navas are out injured with Chris Casement and Tommy Smith amongst Magilton's potential options, although an injury to either senior centre-half could see a short-term signing.
Smith is currently away at the FIFA U17 World Cup, but was an unused sub in Friday's 2-1 victory over Brazil, and it is likely that Casement, who can also deputise at right-back, will come into the 16.
Up front, Alan Lee and Pablo Couñago will continue their promising partnership with the Irishman already on four goals for the season. Boss Magilton says the former Rotherham and Cardiff man can get even better: "I have to be pleased with how Alan has begun the campaign and hope he can keep it going.
"But I want more from him. If you ask him, he will agree that there is room for improvement in his general play and this is what I will be looking for.
"His partnership with Pablo Couñago and Jon Walters has gone well from pre-season into the competitive games and Alan's experience can be a great help in the dressing room.”
Palace have defender Jeff Hughes, a signing from Lincoln City over the summer, and ex-West Ham midfielder Carl Fletcher back in contention, but midfielder Ben Watson is out for six weeks with ankle ligament problems.
Paul Ifill is also unavailable due to a hamstring injury, while Stuart Green (calf) and Dougie Freedman (knee) are both fit enough to face the Blues.
Republic of Ireland international Clinton Morrison will be looking for his 100th Palace goal and has been given permission to reveal a shirt bearing the legend "100 not out” should he net against the Blues, despite the likelihood of a yellow card.
Former Blues James Scowcroft and Shefki Kuqi will be in the Palace squad, with the former Town youth player more likely to get a start than the Finnish international.
Scowcroft has started the season in good form, netting a hat-trick against George Burley's Southampton on the opening day, but manager Peter Taylor has said he will listen to offers for Kuqi.
Last season's corresponding fixture was on the first day of the season with the Eagles coming from behind to win after Nicky Forster had put the Blues ahead at the break. Jobi McAnuff and, perhaps inevitably, James Scowcroft netted Palace's second half goals.
Saturday's referee is Andy D'Urso from Billericay, an official with a bit of history against the Blues. D'Urso was the official who sent John McGreal off for foul and abusive language at Chelsea in 2002 after the Town defender had called him a "big-time Charlie”. On the upside, D'Urso reduced Rotherham to nine men at Portman Road in 2003.
Last season, D'Urso was in charge of the home victory over Birmingham and the away win at Luton Town. During 2006/07 D'Urso issued 99 yellow and four red cards in 44 matches.
This season's first issue of TWTD featuring an interview with Tommy Miller will be on sale from our sellers around the ground prior to kick-off (by Sir Alf, next to Planet Blue and the Portman Road entrance to the Greene King Stand) from 11.30am. Alternatively, you can take out a six-issue subscription http://www.twtdonline.co.uk/>here or buy a single issue here.
Likely squad: Alexander, Supple, Wright, Harding, De Vos, Bruce, Casement, Miller, Garvan, O'Callaghan, Legwinski, Peters, Roberts, Haynes, Walters, Lee, Couñago, Clarke.
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