Wanderers hit the road again for a 600-mile round-trip to Plymouth as they look to secure a first away win of the campaign.
The Whites endured a tough night at Home Park last season as they were washed away in a monsoon.
But boss Ian Evatt believes his side is a vastly improved model from the one beaten 3-0 in October as they look to build on an unbeaten away start.
Victory at Plymouth would live Evatt’s men above the Pilgrims with the chance to regain an early top-six slot.
Manager quotes
Ian Evatt: “Plymouth away on a Bank Holiday weekend is slightly challenging but we’re looking forward to another league game; a difficult game.
“Plymouth are a good side, they cause teams problems.
“We know it’s going to be tough but we need to focus on ourselves and make sure we’re ready to hit the ground running.”
Plymouth manager Steven Schumacher:
“The games last season, both were tight. I know we won 3-0 in the puddles, but we won it late on, I don’t think it was a 3-0 game. The one at their place was really tight and won on a set play.
“Games in this league, whether against teams at the top of the division or the bottom, are usually decided on small margins.
“Bolton will be one of the teams that fancy it this season. They have a settled squad. They recruited well in the summer and they have a big playing squad.
“They have some good forward players. When we go through and analyse what their strengths and weaknesses are, their front players are exciting. We’ll have to be at our best defensively, but we think we can cause them problems as well.
“I think they are a good team. They were good last year, especially at the end of the season when they really got going. It will be a tough game. They always try to play football. They are heavily possession based. We won’t have it all our own way on Saturday.”
Team news
Wanderers are set to make changes from the side that pushed Villa hard before bowing out of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night.
Ian Evatt has balanced the game time across in his squad in a hectic month and will shuffle the pack again.
However, striker Jon Dadi Bodvarsson remains sidelined with a hamstring injury which keeps him out of contention.
Midfielders Josh Sheehan and Lloyd Isgrove could return in the Papa Johns Trophy next Tuesday night, when summer signing Eoin Toal could also feature for the first time.
Plymouth will have defender James Wilson back from suspension after a one-match ban for his sending off in the Pilgrims’ 5-1 loss at Charlton.
However, the Pilgrims are without wing-backs Conor Grant and Mickel Miller, as well as defender James Bolton and midfielder Panutche Camara through injury.
Form guide
Wanderers are unbeaten away from home after draws in their first two away trips.
As well as seeking a first away win, the Whites will also be looking to bounce back from a first defeat in 14 games against Sheffield Wednesday last Saturday prior to their mid-week Carabao Cup exit to Aston Villa.
Fifth-placed Plymouth have collected one point more than Wanderers from their opening five games.
The Pilgrims have won both their League One games at Home Park – although went out of the Carabao Cup at home to Peterborough in round one – and picked up three points from a 3-0 win at Forest Green last Saturday.
They are yet to draw, with two defeats at Fleetwood and Charlton Athletic.
Officials:
Referee: Will Finnie
Assistant referees: Alex James and Jack Clench
Fourth official: Daniel Flynn
Kick-off: Saturday 3pm
Coverage
Live commentary is available on iFollow with an audio pass, with details HERE