SAM Allardyce is hoping his happy Wanderers can be one-hit wonders against Arsenal on Saturday.

The Whites are brimming with confidence ahead of the FA Cup quarter-final shoot-out with the Gunners, but Big Sam reckons they must make home advantage count if they are to book a place in the semi-finals.

He knows that a replay at Highbury on Monday, March 21 - just two days after Wanderers meet Norwich at the Reebok in a 5.15pm kick off and Arsenal travel to Blackburn - would tip the scales decisively.

Arsene Wenger has a considerably stronger squad to draw from.

"We don't want to go back to Arsenal, we want to play it to a finish on the day, if we can," Allardyce said as Wanderers began their Cup preparations in earnest.

"Obviously, if we come down to the last few minutes and we're 1-0 down, I will gladly accept a draw and take them on again at Highbury. But I'd rather not.

"Let's just go for it and do what we've done already this year and get another 1-0 victory over them."

Recent FA Cup history suggests Wanderers should not fear a Highbury replay. Bruce Rioch's giant-killers having won there 3-1 in extra-time in the fourth round of 1994, after holding the then Cup holders to a 2-2 draw at Burnden Park.

But Allardyce has more painful personal memories. Again Arsenal were the holders and again Wanderers gave themselves a second chance when Allardyce headed the goal that took the 1980 fifth round tie to a second meeting. But on that occasion the Whites were on the receiving end of a 3-0 hammering in North London.

Wanderers, who were rock bottom of the old First Division at the time and destined for relegation, meet Arsenal on more favourable terms this time round. They are still some way short quality-wise, but having the psychological advantage of already having taken four points off the outgoing Premiership Champions this season.

They could not be better prepared either, after kicking off the week with a victory at Manchester City.

Sixth in the Premiership and in the UEFA Cup frame with just nine games to play, Allardyce has good reason to believe they have what it takes to become the first Bolton team to qualify for Europe.

Kevin Keegan is the latest rival manager to hail Allardyce's achievements.

Conceding that Wanderers deserved their 1-0 win at Eastlands, the City boss said: "Bolton have established themselves well in the Premiership. They've got a way of playing and, even when the personnel changes, each one of them knows his job and gets on with it.

"They've got a lot of very experienced players who have been around and know what time of day it is and that showed on Monday night.

"Their bench was probably more experienced than our whole team was, in terms of winning things. And that's credit to them."

Nevertheless, despite claiming to have the best squad of players he has ever handled, Allardyce knows Wenger's would be so much better equipped to deal with a replay.