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Of course this isn't just any FA Cup tie, this is a derby FA Cup tie. The chance as well to rewrite some wrongs after we were beaten 3-1 by Bolton in Uwe Rosler's last game in charge. If Malcky Mackay wants to be endeared by us the fans, batter Bolton today and that could be a start.
The problem is though we need to be winning games in the league not the FA Cup. With that in mind should Mackay not experiment with his team line up? Is this not the perfect time to give Andy Delort and even Oriol Riera a starting chance in the side?
Mackay spoke this week about resting a few players and taking a younger group, but who does that include? Does that mean we may see Frazer Fyvie, Tom Chow and Ryan Jennings a trio of players who massively impressed over the course of pre-season.
It is hoped that Marytn Waghorn will be fit to face the Wanderers today, with only Callum McManaman and Leon Barnett (suspended and injuryed) the only two players unavailable for today's game.
Bolton will be without the massively influential Lee Chung-yong after he went off to the Asia Cup this week, whilst their defensive main stay of Matt Mills will also be missing for the game. Good news for us as they lose the creative spark that last time out tore us to pieces. The bad news though is that striker Craig Davies who caused no end of problems returns ahead of today.
Well you win some you lose some.
Today's game really means little and nothing to me, unfortunately we are in a situation where this is more a distraction than an escape from playing in the league. Our team is badly underperforming and just hope that Mackay isn't stubborn enough to keep ignoring why, or the possible solution.
If the line today includes two out and out striker ad one of them is Marc Antoine Fortune, for me that is the best result we can get today. It doesn't matter if we win or lose to see both Delort and Riera on the pitch together and if it works could be key to our survival this season.
A win would be nice, but at the moment doing something in the FA Cup seems a million miles away from where we are.