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Wanderers boss Ian Evatt is expecting a “hard-fought” encounter against Morecambe at the UniBol on Tuesday night.
The Whites drew on both occasions against the Shrimps last season and Evatt says they are usually hard to beat.
The Bolton chief hopes his team can start on the front foot and reckons the first goal will be crucial if they are to secure all three points.
“We know what to expect. I think the game will be no different to the other games we’ve had here,” he said.
“It’s going to be close and it’s going to be hard-fought. I want to see energy from our players, especially the ones that didn’t have to put in an incredible shift on Saturday.
“The other ones have hopefully recovered well enough to be able to go out there and play with our intensity on our home pitch with our home fans. We’re very much looking forward to it.
“We have played them a lot in the last couple of years and it has historically been a pretty tight game.
“They are always hard to beat, they always work hard, they always come up with a pressing strategy and a block that is difficult to break down.
“I think the first goal of the game is going to be vital. Hopefully, we get it.”
Evatt’s men have picked up five points from their opening three league matches despite a tricky start on paper.
He added: “I think we’re in a good place, nothing has changed that. I’m obviously disappointed with only the one point on Saturday, but in the circumstances, probably the best result really.
“But I think on Saturday with 11 men we take over the game and win comfortably. That didn’t happen, these things happen.
“And sometimes they shape your season, these moments of adversity and tough times.
“When you feel you’ve been on the rough end of some wrong decisions, you have to find a way to still get points and results and I thought we did that well on Saturday.”
Wanderers played nearly an hour with 10 men in the blazing heat at Port Vale, and Evatt is planning to make changes.
“We’ve got the strength in depth and the flexibility to be able to rotate things and change things up and try and keep people fresh,” the manager explained.
“We will be doing that, no doubt about it. We have to do that.
“The lads put in an incredible shift on Saturday in awful conditions, so there’s a bit of tiredness out there this morning but very much looking forward to the game tomorrow night.”
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