A win against Blackpool on Saturday would see Blues climb back into second place in the Championship above Reading and narrow the gap on leaders Wolves to just four points

Here is everything you need to know ahead of the big game at Bloomfield Road.

TEAM NEWS
Blues
Stephen Kelly is out with an ankle injury which he picked up in training this week and Kemy Agustien is also missing with a groin problem.

Alex McLeish is also without long term absentees Garry O'Connor (groin) and Gary McSheffrey (knee).

James McFadden is back in the squad after recovering from a throat abscess.

DJ Campbell

Blackpool
Forwards Ben Burgess and Steve McPhee will miss the game because of knee injuries.

Former Blues striker DJ Campbell is expected to start for the Seasiders.

Campbell is likely to be partnered by winger Gary Taylor-Fletcher after Blackpool caretaker boss Tony Parkes was unable to bring in a loan striker prior to the game. 

Stephen Crainey and Jermaine Wright are both available after recovering from knee and Achilles injuries respectively.

FORM GUIDE
Neither side has had a particularly good series of results of late.

Blues' last win was on Boxing Day when they beat Ipswich 1-0 thanks to a James McFadden penalty.

Blackpool have to go back even further for their last three point haul, when they beat Charlton 2-0 at Bloomfield Road on December 6. 

Despite the lack of victories, the Seasiders have picked up some decent draws in the past month against the likes of Wolves, Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea. 

When Blues and Blackpool met at St. Andrew's earlier this season it was the Lancashire outfit who came out on top with a 1-0 win courtesy of second half goal from Gary Taylor-Fletcher.

Blues currently sit in third place in the table, two points behind second placed Reading, but with a game in hand.

Meanwhile Blackpool occupy 17th spot some 21 points behind Blues.

Alex McLeish

MANAGERS' COMMENTS
Alex McLeish
There's a big incentive for us this weekend.

We know that it's not easy to go to Blackpool when you look at some of the results that they've had.

We don't have a God-given right to beat anybody.

The division deserves a lot of respect when you see the results in recent weeks - Burnley for instance and Derby tells you that the division is very strong.

Against Cardiff last week and I almost felt as if we were expected to turn them over.

Hameur Bouazza

But in the end you have to give the lads credit for the perseverance, resilience and spirit they showed - if not quite the flair I'm looking for yet.

We're still right up there in the league and can go into second place.

Wolves play Reading on Tuesday night and I know it's ifs and buts, we have to actually do the business rather than just talk about it.

As a team I'd like to think that we will get better.

It's been difficult this week with the weather again and the waterlogged pitches, but the new players are integrating well and it will rub off on the others.

That's got to augur well for the squad and whether it's Scott Sinclair or Hameur Bouazza who are playing, whether it's Larsson and McFadden, or they are all playing, we want each player to inspire the other.

Tony Parkes

Blackpool caretaker boss Tony Parkes
Birmingham is a big test for us but we're looking forward to it.

We went to Birmingham earlier in the season and I thought it was going to be a tough game but we won 1-0.

On the day I thought (Steve) Kabba had a really good game and led the line really well and gave the two centre halves a really tough time.

I thought Birmingham could have played better because they weren't really at it on that day.

But I think it will be a totally different game on Saturday.

They'll have the bit between their teeth a little bit and they won't want Blackpool to do the double over them so it will be a tough game like all Championship games are.

Although they're third in the table I don't think they're that sure of getting in the top two.

They've made a few signings so they're trying to change it round for the better so hopefully we can get them on an indifferent day.

We'd like to play with a bit of style like we did against Wolves but that's not always possible. It's all about the result.

No matter who you play at home I think you've got a better chance then when you play them away.

We'll be going all out to win and we've got the players here to give Birmingham a good game.

LAST VISIT
Blues' last game at Bloomfield Road was a forgettable League Cup tie back in September 2003.

Blues at the time were an established Premier League side and Steve Bruce rested Christophe Dugarry, Robbie Savage and Mikael Forssell but lived to regret it as Scott Taylor fired in the only goal for the then-League One outfit after only six minutes.

Stephen Clemence missed a golden opportunity to equalise from the penalty spot as he blazed his shot high over the bar.

BETTING
Blues are strong favourites with Bet365 to win the game at odds of 11/10. A Blackpool win is available at 13/5 and the draw at 11/5.

If you fancy an outside bet, a 3-0 win for Blues can be had at 18/1 and the same scoreline with Hameur Bouazza netting the first goal is on offer at 125/1. For the full range of bets, just click here.

MATCH COMMENTARY
If you can't make it to Bloomfield Road, you can listen to full 90 minutes commentary of the game on Blues World.

Don't forget that Blues World is completely free throughout the month of January.

The official website, bcfc.com, will have a match report available minutes after the final whistle along with McLeish's post-match comments.

MAN IN THE MIDDLE
Referee Steve Tanner will take charge of this Saturday's Championship game between Blackpool and Blues at Bloomfield Road.

The Somerset-based official has refereed a total of 19 games so far this season where he has issued 55 yellow cards and five reds.

Steve Tanner

The last time he took charge of a Blues game was in March 2008 when Blues lost 4-2 away at Portsmouth.

On that occasion he booked just one player, which was Mauro Zarate for Blues.

Mr Tanner will be assisted by Andy Halliday from London and John Stokes from the Wirral

TICKETS
Up until Friday afternoon Blues had sold some 1,400 tickets from their allocation of 1,700 tickets. Remaining tickets will be on sale at Blackpool on the day of the game priced at: 

Adult - £26.00
Senior (Over 60) - £20.00
16 to 18 Year olds - £18.00
Under 16's - £15.00