Skipper Jason De Vos is expected to be fit for tonight's trip to Wolves despite suffering a knee ligament injury in Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace (KO 7.45pm). The Blues are likely to be unchanged with midfielder Owen Garvan still sidelined.

Garvan is suffering the effects of his recent bout of shingles and also has a knee problem, and is unlikely to be back in action before the end of the month.

While the Irish youngster is unavailable, Gavin Williams and Alex Bruce are likely to continue in central midfield. Williams was Town's star performer against Palace on Saturday but tired after the break, having missed most of pre-season due to tendinitis and a groin injury.

Jaime Peters and Darren Currie are likely to continue on the flanks, switching from time to time as they did during pre-season and against Palace on Saturday.

At the back, De Vos will be partnered by Richard Naylor with Dan Harding at left-back and Fabian Wilnis on the right.

Up front, Nicky Forster and Dean Bowditch will probably start with Alan Lee pushing for a place in the first XI as he regains his fitness after his summer abdominal operation. Lee is likely to be introduced at some stage after the break.

Wolves will have Nigerian midfielder Seyi Olofinjana back after a groin injury and Hungarian midfielder Denes Rosa is also in contention having missed out at the weekend with a similar problem.

New Wolves boss Mick McCarthy is unable to call on Lewis Gobern (groin), while summer signing Gary Breen (ankle) faces a fitness test.

Tonight's whistler is Trevor Kettle from Berkshire, who showed 142 yellow and 12 red cards in 39 games last season. Kettle's last Town game was the 2-2 draw with Coventry at Portman Road in October 2005.

Squad: Bowditch, Bruce, Clarke, Currie, De Vos, Forster, Harding, Haynes, Lee, Naylor, Parkin, Peters, Price, Richards, Sito, Supple, Williams, Wilnis.

Photo: Action Images

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