KEVIN Davies is determined to make up for the biggest disappointment of his career by spearheading Wanderers' bid for Carling Cup glory.

The Reebok striker was dumped from Southampton's FA Cup Final squad last May, when Gordon Strachan brought his second spell with the Saints to a bitter end.

But he has bounced back with Wanderers this season and goes into Wednesday's first leg of the semi-final clash with Aston Villa with the Millennium Stadium back in his sights.

"It's one of the biggest games of my career," Davies said ahead of the Reebok opener. "There's not many players get to cup finals... I've been to one and not played so it's a massive game for me."

Davies scored his sixth goal of the season to secure a crucial Premiership victory over Portsmouth on Saturday -- a result that took Wanderers into the top half of the table.

The 26-year-old, whose tireless efforts and wholehearted performances have won him a host of new admirers, is confident Wanderers can also progress on the cup front but he is cautious.

"It's going to be tough," he said. "Villa are a form team and we'll need to get a good home result then go down there and hopefully get to the final. Personally I'm desperate to get through."

Before naming his side Sam Allardyce will need assurances on the fitness of centre-back Emerson Thome, who has an ankle problem. But the only change expected is at left-back, where Simon Charlton could return at the expense of Anthony Barness.

Per Frandsen, who missed the Portsmouth game with an Achilles problem, is suspended but Jay-Jay Okocha will play his last game before he joins up with Nigeria for the African Nations Cup tournament.

Davies says the inspirational skipper will be missed, but says Wanderers have enough talent to cope, with or without new additions.

"He's a great player but we've got other great players here as well," he said. "It's something we're going to have to deal with. We don't know whether the manager is going to bring somebody else in but we've got enough quality here to survive.

"Anyone who knows anything about football knows the quality Youri (Djorkaeff) brings to the team. He's played a major part on the pitch. He is a world class player, an important player as well as Jay-Jay and so are the rest. It's a team game."