WOLVES V BLUES PREVIEW
Blues will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to five games when they make the short trip to Molineux to face Wolves on Sunday.
Meanwhile Wolves have not won any of their previous seven Premier League games.
Five points and six places currently separate Blues from their Midland neighbours and a victory for Alex McLeish's side would open up the gap to an impressive eight points at this early stage of the season.
TEAM NEWS
Blues
Club captain Damien Johnson is back in contention for a place in the squad after several months on the sidelines because of a hamstring injury.
Gregory Vignal has recovered from a knee problem.
Blues absentees will be Stuart Parnaby (back), Garry O'Connor (hip), Martin Taylor (ankle), David Murphy (knee) and Teemu Tainio (knee).
Wolves
Wolves will definitely be without David Jones (knee), Chris Iwelumo (foot) and Matt Murray (knee).
Matthew Hill (ankle), Stephen Ward (knee) and Ronal Zumar (thigh) are all doubtful for Sunday.
MANAGER'S COMMENTS
Blues boss Alex McLeish
"This is a huge game. Wolves have home advantage, and Mick will be grilling his troops to go all out for victory.
"But we believe we're every bit as good as Wolves and we'll be going to Molineux with the confidence from recent performances.
"I'll look for our players to be going to away grounds and making a difference, such as James McFadden, who's starting to look more like himself.
"The two centre forwards (Benítez and Cameron Jerome) have got pace that can hurt anybody.
"But there's not going to be much difference between the two sides this season.
"Wolves will be seeing it as a must-win at the weekend.
"They will come at us, I'm sure, like a runaway train - and we have to be ready.
"You've always got your apprehensions facing any opponent but I don't see why we can't go to Wolves with confidence because the players have been playing well.
"This is a big pressure game and it will be interesting to see how the players handle that because Mick McCarthy will be smarting a little bit and he knows it's a big game for them and I'm expecting them to come out of the blocks."
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy
"You can take the derby aspect, the results against them, take everything away - Sunday is a Premier League game which is hugely important to both teams.
"I don't think any of those other elements will have a bearing on who reacts best on Sunday.
"The issue of it being a local derby has to go on the backburner - it's about us getting points, and of course for them, because they will be feeling exactly the same.
"It's points that bother me. It would not bother me if we lost all the derbies and got 42 points from everywhere else and stayed up then it wouldn't bother me at all.
"It's about getting enough points to stay up; it doesn't matter where they come from.
"It's the next three points available in the Premier League, that's what matters.
"Birmingham have been terrific, really solid.
"It doesn't surprise me because I was interested in both centre-halves.
"It seemed to be there was a bit of hollering going on when they were 4-5-1 and it seems they've changed to 4-4-2 and been a better side for it and winning games."
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Blues are unbeaten in their last seven league meetings against Wolves.
Of those seven games, Blues have won two of them.
The last time the two sides faced each was back in April in a Championship game.
Blues came out on top 2-0 winners courtesy of goals from Cameron Jerome and Garry O'Connor.
MAN IN THE MIDDLE
Referee Mark Clattenburg will take charge of Sunday's game.
The Tyne & Wear-based official has refereed 13 games so far this season, in which he has produced a total of 40 yellow cards and two reds.
The last time he took charge of Blues game was in April 2008 when Blues lost 5-1 to Aston Villa.
On that occasion Mr Clattenburg booked just one player - Blues' James McFadden.
Mr Clattenburg will be assisted by Andy Halliday from North Yorkshire and Darren Cann from Norfolk.
BETTING
As the home side Wolves are favourites to win Sunday's encounter at odds of 7/5 with Bet365. The draw is priced at 11/5 and a Blues win at 21/10.
A 1-0 win to Blues with Cameron Jerome scoring the only goal is on offer at 45/1.
For the full range of Bets available with Bet365, please click HERE.
MATCH COMMENTARY
You can listen to full 90 minutes commentary from Molineux on Blues Player.
To access Blues player, please click HERE.
The official website, bcfc.com, will have a match report available minutes after the final whistle along with McLeish's post-match comments.
ALCOHOL RESTRICTIONS
Blues have been informed by Wolves that there will be alcohol restrictions in place for Sunday's game. Blues supporters will not be able to purchase alcohol inside Molineux. Supporters are also asked to arrive early because the roads around Molineux will be congested.
WEATHER FORECAST
The weather forecast for Sunday in Wolverhampton is predicted to be heavy rain with a maximum temperature of 6 degrees Centigrade.
TICKETS
Please note that this game is ALL TICKET. No further tickets are available.
