TREVOR Francis is starting to worry that his pre-season predictions are about to come true.

The Birmingham boss tipped Sunderland and Wanderers to dominate Division One and win the race for the two autopmatic promotion places.

And he's seen nothing yet to change his mind - even though his Birmingham City side is champing at the Premiership bit.

"So far my tips are coming true, unfortunately!" Francis said as the teams shaped up for tomorrow's 'six-pointer' at St Andrew's.

"Bolton are a very impressive side, the form team of the division and it's true, they were one of my tips for automatic promotion before the season started . . . along with Sunderland."

Francis hasn't thown in the towel, though, and with Birmingham only five points behind Wanderers, insists: "We haven't given up hope of getting one of the top two places ourselves.

"If we win tomorrow, we'll be back in the frame."

William Hills' odds - 6-4 against a home win, 6-4 against an away win, 11-5 the draw - suggest the game is evenly matched, especially since Wanderers have won only once on their last 11 games at St Andrew's. But the Blues' manpower crisis could tip the balance.

With Gary Ablett and Darren Wassall injured, Michael Johnson, Jon McCarthy and Jerry Gill suspended, Gary Rowett will switch to centre-back to partner Darren Purse with either Martin Grainger or Jon Bass being drafted in at right back. Brian Hughes replaces McCarthy in midfield with ex-Sheffield Wednesday man Graham Hyde expected to get a place on the bench.

The Birmingham attack of Paul Furlong and Dele Adebola, serviced by former Coventry winger Peter Ndlovu, has already notched 28 league goals and poses a powerful and potentially potent threat.

But Francis knows from the Reebok experience in September that Wanderers can pose an even greater threat.

"Only once this season have I felt we've been outplayed," he recalls of the 3-1 hammering, "and that was at Bolton."

Ex-Derby defender Rowett who scored the Birmingham goal that day, reckons it's make or break for the Blues.

"Defeat is unthinkable," he says. "We know that nothing will be decided but an eight point gap will very hard for us to catch up."

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