The former Liverpool star Steve Nicol is relishing the chance to kick-start his career at the Hawthorns as he prepares to help West Brom's bid for a play-off place. Nicol joined Albion on loan from Sheffield Wednesday last week after slipping out of favour under Ron Atkinson at Hillsborough.
The 36-year-old midfielder made an immediate impact on his debut at Norwich City last week and has been handed the captain's armband ahead of Saturday's game with Port Vale.
Nicol said: "I enjoyed every minute last week. I am a footballer and I enjoy playing football.
"I am just glad to be playing and I will play for anyone who wants me to. I still feel that I have got a lot to offer."
West Brom will be without central defender Daryl Burgess who is serving a one-match ban after collecting five bookings this season, while right-back Paul Holmes is battling to shake off a thigh strain and Smith will choose between Matt Carbon and Shaun Murphy at the heart of the defence.
Port Vale manager John Rudge will be without suspended Gareth Ainsworth and Andy Porter while Tony Naylor and Mark Snijders are unfit and Allen Tankard is very doubtful.
Rock-bottom Stoke City also have their share of problems at home to QPR as top scorer Peter Thorne and wing-back Danny Tiatto serve one-match bans, while Ally Pickering has undergone knee surgery and Kyle Lightbourne is still troubled by a blood virus.
Peter Jackson leads Huddersfield into their fourth successive six-pointer having set his side a 51-point target to stay up.
Jackson wants another nine points from eight games for safety and said: "With the table very tight one bad result can throw any team from six into deep trouble."
Kevin Gray (calf), Marcus Browning (hamstring) and Dave Phillips (flu) should all be fit to continue in an unchanged line up with young defender Sam Collins deputising for the suspended Jon Dyson.
Reading caretaker-manager Alan Pardew faces an anxious wait to find out if goal-keeper Nicky Hammond's broken finger, has recovered sufficiently for him to play. Trainee Jamie Ashdown stands by to deputise. Bury midfielder Lennie Johnrose has completed a onematch suspension and he and striker Rob Matthews face late fitness tests on hamstring injuries but Paul Butler is suspended for the visit of Oxford.
Oxford are expected to be unchanged as they bid for a fourth straight win when they visit Gigg Lane.
New signing Danny Mills will make his debut for Charlton in the London club's first visit to Crewe.
Mills will probably slot in at right-back in place of Anthony Barness who has a hamstring injury and Stuart Balmer will take over from suspended central defender Richard Rufus. Injury-ravaged Stockport County are expected to give a debut to Manchester United's promising young defender Ronnie Wallwork for today's First Division match at Swindon Town.
Swindon manager Steve McMahon awaits news of George Ndah and Scott Leitch before naming his team to face Stockport at the County Ground.
Tranmere will have strikers David Kelly and Lee Jones together for the first time in three months at home to Bradford.
Both have been sidelined with troublesome knee injuries but passed fitness tests as manager John Aldridge demands a positive reaction from his squad after what he termed a "woeful display" in the three-goal reverse at Huddersfield last weekend.
Aldridge has decided against making a comeback himself and missing from today's squad are defenders Clint Hill and Alan Morgan who are both suspended.
In Division Two Watford hope to put their recent uncertain form behind them at Oldham as second placed Bristol City aim to close the gap at home to Plymouth.
Notts County can clinch promotion from the Third Division if they beat Colchester today while at the other end of the table Doncaster are in desperate need of a home win against play-off contenders Lincoln.
