The tie is evenly poised as both teams shared out a goalless draw at the Reebok Stadium a week ago and the element of pressure lies very much with the French hosts who will be backed by a 60,000 strong crowd.

Wanderers are as yet undefeated in their first season in this competition and will have nothing to fear as they get set to visit another country to add to their UEFA Cup passport which already reads trips to Bulgaria, Turkey and Portugal.

Marseille on the other hand are no strangers to continental tournaments and they will be hoping to extend their unbeaten home record which stretches right back to the start of the season.

Both managers have seen their pre-match preparations distrupted by illness as Marseille coach Jean Fernandez will miss the game due to forthcoming surgery on his gall stones whilst Bolton's Sam Allardyce will fly out later than his team after suffering from the effects of a virus.

L'OM assistant Albert Emon will take charge of the French side for the game but Allardyce is expected to be back to full health to resume his place in the opposing dug out with the Wanderers.

Khalilou Fadiga, Ivan Campo and El-Hadji Diouf are all missing through injury for Bolton but the good news is that the Trotters are able to welcome back Henrik Pedersen to the fold for the first time since October.

Striker Matt Jansen could also make the tie having missed the first leg and Saturday's FA Cup game at West Ham United through injury. Japan ace Hidetoshi Nakata has served his UEFA Cup suspension and will be involved at some point as will Gary Speed who made his return to action last week.

Marseille have defender Bostjan Cesar out of contention with a facial injury so Wanderers target Abdoulaye Meite may get a chance to face a side whom many beleive will be his future employers.

Argentinian Renato Civelli and former Fulham player Jerome Bonnissel are also looking to fill the void left by Cesar who sustained the nasty injury during the weekend game with FC Metz.

UEFA CUP RECORD

15/02/2006 BOLTON WANDERERS 0 OLYMPIQUE MARSEILLE 0

UEFA CUP FORM GUIDE:

Played: 1

Won: 0

Drawn: 1

Lost: 0

CONNECTIONS

Ibrahim Ba, Fabrice Fernandes, Bruno N'Gotty, Franck Passi.

IT HAPPENED WHEN BOLTON PLAYED MARSEILLE

Ex-Manchester United goalkeeper Fabien Barthez was cautioned by the referee for his theatrical protests during the first leg of this tie. The experienced custodian, famed for his eccentricity, came out of his goal to argue with the officials having tangled with the Bolton players during a set piece.

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