Stuart Pearce is likely to field the same side that drew at Blackburn last weekend as Manchester City host Portsmouth at Eastlands.
Jon Macken is in the squad following his goalscoring return in the reserves on Tuesday after a recent hamstring injury, leaving only long-term casualties Jihai Sun, Trevor Sinclair (both knee) and Geert de Vlieger (foot) as absentees.
Antoine Sibierski will again be asked to provide striking support for Robbie Fowler as Pearce looks to strengthen his claims on the manager’s job.
Squad: James, Weaver, Mills, Onuoha, Dunne, Distin, Sommeil, Jordan, Thatcher, Croft, Bosvelt, S Wright-Phillips, McManaman, Reyna, Flood, Barton, Sibierski, Musampa, Fowler, Macken, B Wright-Phillips.