Familiar faces, winning runs and unwanted records - bwfc.co.uk previews Monday night's televised clash at Gigg Lane
Wanderers travel to local-rivals Bury on Monday night as the two sides clash in front of the Sky Cameras. With four wins and four clean sheets from their last four outings, the Whites will be looking to extend that run as they try to end an 87-year wait for a win at Gigg Lane.
With Phil Parkinson facing his former club and a number of ex-Bolton players currently on the Shakers' book, there are plenty of angles heading into the clash as bwfc.co.uk highlights eight talking points in a special bumper edition of our pre-match preview!
1. Derby day!
It's derby day! Wanderers travel to Bury on Monday night for the first time since April 1999 as the two sides lock horns for only the third time since the turn of the millennium.
The Whites came out on top the last time the two sides met in a League Cup tie back in August 2014, and boast the superior record in this fixture with 29 wins to Bury's 28.
An eagerly-anticipated clash, both sets of supporters will be desperate for their respective sides to come out on top and clinch local bragging rights!
2. Live on Sky
Kicking off at 7.45pm, Monday's game will be televised live on Sky Sports with Bolton knowing a victory would see them leapfrog Bradford City into second place in Sky Bet League One.
With a national audience tuning in, the Trotters will be looking to show what they are capable of as they look to bounce back from last season's disappointing relegation to the third tier.
3. Sold out away following
Wanderers will be backed by a vocal 3,247 fans at Gigg Lane as the travelling Whites once again prove themselves to be one of the best sets of support in the division.
Travelling far and wide in vast numbers to support Bolton so far this season, they will inevitably be at their vocal best once again when making the short journey to Gigg Lane, setting the scene for a special atmosphere.
4. Phil Parkinson's former club
Trotters manager Phil Parkinson spent four years on the books of local-rivals Bury during his playing days between 1988 and 1992.
Enjoying a fine start to life at Macron Stadium since taking over as Wanderers boss, the gaffer will be eager to get one over on his former employers as the Whites look to maintain their recent strong form.
5. Ex-Bolton players
Phil Parkinson will not be the only one facing his former side tonight with three former Whites currently on the books at Gigg Lane.
Neil Danns, Niall Maher and Paul Rachubka all joined the Shakers during the summer having been released by Bolton at the end of last season, while Tom Walker is also currently on loan at Bury though he is ineligible to play tonight.
Both Danns and Maher have featured regularly for their new side so far this season, and will be keen to impress against some familiar faces as they lock horns with their old team-mates, adding an extra spice to proceedings on Monday night.
6. Wanderers' winning run
The Trotters come into Monday's game having won all four of their last four outings, keeping four clean sheets along the way.
The last time they won five games in a row without conceding a goal came back in October 2005, and with second place up for grabs, Wanderers will be eager to have matched that run come 9.45pm on Monday.
7. Bury's losing run
In contrast, Bury head into the match having lost all of their last five outings.
At the top end of the table at the start of the month, such form has seen them drop down to mid-table in recent weeks.
However, the form guide goes out the window on derby day. Write the Shakers off at your peril.
8. The Gigg Lane curse
You have to go back to May 1929 for the last time the Whites won a league game away at Bury.
Bolton ran out 4-3 winners that day, and although they were also triumphant on a 1993 League Cup visit to Gigg Lane, the Trotters will be desperate to end that unwanted record on Monday night.
On form and high on confidence, could the 87-year wait for an away league win be about to come to an end?