Preview: Oldham Athletic v Bolton Wanderers

Bolton Wanderers head to Oldham Athletic tomorrow in the knowledge that if results go our way that promotion back to the Championship can be sealed at the first time of asking.

Victory against Oldham and then Bury on Tuesday at the Reebok would be another route, should results elsewhere today go against us.

So, with that in mind, it's a shame to hear that Bolton will go into the game minus some of our most influential players this season. Marc Iles tweeted yesterday that Dorian Dervite, Darren Pratley, Andrew Taylor and Big Gary Madine are all doubts.

Obviously there's a joke in there relating to certain squad members, but you won't find me stooping to that level, no way Jose.

Therefore with these injuries in mind, Phil Parkinson has decisions to make in some very important positions. Natural replacements for each are thin on the ground, due to Wanderers' recruitment strategy this season.

Oldham themselves are no mugs. This is their 20th successive season in this division, they currently lie in 17th place having recorded just 11 wins from their 42 games thus far. The season began with Northern Ireland assistant boss Steve Robinson in charge. This appointment was fairly disastrous and he was replaced by former Oldham boss and ex-Wanderers midfielder John Sheridan in January.

An upturn in results has seen them lose just three times in 13 games, and they haven't lost at home since the end of January. You may recognise another ex-Wanderer in the opposition ranks - a certain Tope Obadeyi. He arrived to great fanfare some time ago but has ended up in the lower leagues.

We arrive on the back of last weekend's defeat to Scunthorpe United, but given the stakes, it would take a brave man to bet against the Whites picking up the W.