PER Frandsen's absence could force Sam Allardyce to parade a new look Wanderers tomorrow.

The clash with Watford is as close as you can get to a 'must win' match so early in the season and Allardyce looks set to ring the changes as he searches for a victory that could be crucial to Bolton's promotion hopes.

The manager must delve into his squad to fill the void left by Frandsen's one match ban and another change is expected with a switch from the more containing 3-5-1 which played the last two away games to a more attacking 4-4-2 formation.

Ian Marshall is one option to play up front but the more likely switch will see Bo Hansen move from the right of midfield to a central striker's role alongside Michael Ricketts.

Ricardo Gardner is on standby to switch from left to right flank with either Carsten Fredgaard or Gareth Farrelly coming in on the left.

Farrelly has recovered from injury which has sidelined him for the last two matches although Allardyce would have preferred him to have got a reserve match under his belt first.

If Fredgaard gets the nod to make his first start of his loan spell from Sunderland, Farrelly could then challenge Kevin Nolan and Franck Passi for a place in the midfield engine room vacated by Frandsen.

Two men definitely out are Anthony Barness and Dean Holdsworth who have failed to shake off their knee and calf injuries.

Watford go into tomorrow's game three points ahead of Wanderers with two games in hand and, outlining the need for three points from the showdown, Allardyce said: "If we don't win then Watford either maintain the gap or increase it to six points which is something we do not want to happen.

"They have lost their last three games and their confidence will have been knocked a bit.

"We know we have got to try and win because that will show we can compete at the top level of this division. In our position you have got to try to win at home against another top side.

"We want to be as high as possible going into Christmas when there will be nine points at stake and so much can happen.

"There are a lot of games this month and ideally we would look to go into the first week of January having not been beaten in December."