Anthony Forde: Let's get Walsall rocking

Winger Anthony Forde reckons a bouncing Banks's Stadium can give Walsall the edge in tomorrow's promotion showdown with Wigan.

A bumper crowd of more than 6,000 is expected when the third-placed Saddlers host the Latics, who sit just one place behind them in League One.

And Forde admits the supporters have their part to play, as Sean O'Driscoll's men look for a win to kickstart a charge toward the Championship.

He said: "When you're getting cheered on by more supporters it gives you an extra boost," he said. "I think at home games they can affect the game in a positive way.

"As a player, when you know they're behind you, as they have been all year, it gives you an edge."

Tomorrow's game is the first of two against promotion rivals for the Saddlers, who travel to leaders Burton Albion on Saturday week.

The visitors arrive on a 10-game unbeaten run, while the hosts are looking to recover after following up a 3-0 defeat to Millwall with a disappointing draw at Crewe.

Forde, while admitting players are well aware of the game's significance, reckons they have the mentality to cope with the pressure.

The 22-year-old said: "You approach the game the same but you know that you're playing a big team at quite an interesting time of the season, when we're all up there at the top of the table.

"You have that in your mind but when the game arrives you go into it as just another game. In the back of your mind, you know that if we get a good result it would be massive.

"We have to try and play the way we can play and if we do that then we'll be fine. There's no point changing the way we play because it's a so-called bigger game.

"We know what we need to do and we'll go out and do that."

O'Driscoll remains hopeful defender James O'Connor will be fit enough to return. The 31-year-old missed last Saturday's 1-1 draw at Crewe after suffering a dead leg. Matt Preston is again on standby.