Wanderers make the short trip north to Morecambe in search of a fifth successive win to continue their climb up the League One table.
The two sides were both promoted last season with Morecambe reaching the highest level in their history by winning the League Two play-off final.
The Shrimps are engaged in a battle to avoid an instant return to the EFL’s bottom tier but are putting up a serious fight, with two wins, two draws and two defeats from their last six games taking them to within two points of the sides above the drop zone.
Wanderers, meanwhile, are up to 11th place thanks to their impressive recent run – which has also put them back into the black on the goal-difference front.
Ian Evatt’s men have won three on the spin at home and ended their seven-match losing run away from home with a 1-0 victory at Shrewsbury Town the last time out on the road.
Pre-match quotes: From the bosses
Ian Evatt: “We need to carry on this good vibe. You have to work hard to win football matches, though.
“It doesn’t come easy. You have to earn the right in every game and we’ve got to do that again on Saturday.
“They are a team very much in touch and capable of staying up with some very good players.
“We’re going to have to find a way to win. It might not be our usual fluid attacking game but we have to make sure we are positive and we keep doing the things we’ve been doing and set the right standards.
“And if we do that, we can hopefully get three points.”
Stephen Robinson: “I believe we’ve got a really good spirit about the camp, we’ve got boys that want to be here and really want to play for the football club and that bodes well.
“I’m confident that if we continue to play, we’ll turn the performances into results.
“Bolton have been fantastic, I’ve watched three of their last four games.
“They’re a very good football side, they’ve got a set way of playing and they won’t change that for anybody which is credit to them, they’re a real threat.”
Team news
Deadline-day signing Kyle Dempsey could make a Wanderers’ debut with the midfielder able to be included in the squad for the first time.
Kieran Lee also returns after being rested for the mid-week win over Cambridge.
Morecambe have added former Northampton, Bristol Rovers, and Stevenage goalkeeper Adam Smith to their squad and he could figure following a mid-week injury to Trevor Carson.
The Shrimps are also set to include former White Arthur Gnahoua in support of 20-goal top scorer Cole Stockton.
Tickets
Wanderers have sold out their allocation of 1,700 tickets.
Last time out
Morecambe 0-1 Bolton Wanderers | Saturday 24th April 2021 | Sky Bet League Two
With the season nearing its climax, Wanderers found themselves third in Sky Bet League Two and occupied the final automatic promotion with just three games to go. Morecambe though were in fine form in 4th position, just one point behind Ian Evatt's side.
With Morecambe down to ten men midway through the first half, with Kelvin Mellor sent off for a stamp on Dapo Afolayan, Wanderers scored the only goal to the game just before half-time with Ben Jackson firing a low shot past Kyle Letheren from the edge of the box.
Wanderers: Gilks, Jones, Almeida Santos, Baptiste, Jackson, Williams, Lee, Thomason (Sarcevic 70), Isgrove (Elbouzedi 81), Afolayan (Delfouneso 46), Doyle (Miller 75).
Unused Subs: Jensen, Brockbank, Tutte.
Match officials
Referee: Ross Joyce
Assistant referees: Danny Gratton and Gary Hilton.
Fourth official: Lewis Smith