Bolton Wanderers and Brighton & Hove Albion will go head to head at the Macron Stadium this weekend as both sides look to edge further clear of the relegation zone.

Only goal difference separates the two teams in the table, but they have experienced contrasting fortunes in recent weeks and enter Saturday's match heading in opposite directions.

Bolton's bright start under Neil Lennon has faded and, while a month ago there were whispers of a late playoff charge being a possibility, the Trotters now find themselves in 19th place and just six points above the relegation zone.

A goalless draw against Liverpool at Anfield in the FA Cup last month seemed to be an encouraging result at the time, but that was the first of a nine-match streak that has seen Bolton win just once.

Indeed, they have lost five of their last seven league games and picked up a meagre four points from the 21 available in that time, including three defeats in a row heading into this match.

Lennon will take limited comfort from the fact that they have had a difficult run of fixtures in that time, facing Derby County, Watford, Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough in four of their last five outings.

Of those, only the Watford match has come at the Macron Stadium, with the Hornets responsible for Bolton's only home defeat in their last 10 league outings in front of their own fans. In fact, they have not lost a home game against a team currently outside the playoff places all season.

Ben Amos was named in goal against Boro and could retain his place between the sticks this weekend, with Andy Lonergan still a doubt through injury.

Zach Clough is expected to return to the starting lineup in place of Eidur Gudjohnsen, while Adam le Fondre may replace Emile Heskey up front if Lennon deems two starts in four days to be too much for the veteran striker.

Skipper Matt Mills is also available for selection again having served his one-match ban, with Dorian Dervite the most likely to make way at the back.

Brighton's own relegation fears have been significantly eased over the past week, with victory in a seven-goal thriller against Birmingham City being followed up by a 2-0 win over in-form Leeds United on Tuesday.

That stretched their unbeaten run to four games, and they haven't gone five without defeat in the league all season.

Incidentally, Brighton followed up a 2-0 triumph over Leeds with a 2-1 win over Bolton earlier in the campaign, and a repeat of that result this weekend would give them three consecutive league victories for the first time since November 2013.

The Seagulls have lost just one of their last seven away games in all competitions, conceding only one goal in their last six but also failing to find the back of the net themselves in the most recent three.

Dale Stephens continues to edge towards full fitness for Brighton but may not be ready to feature from the off this weekend, while Sam Baldock will be hoping to keep his place ahead of Kazenga LuaLua having opened the scoring in midweek.

Indeed, Chris Hughton could name an unchanged side, with Greg Halford and Solly March still sidelined and Emmanuel Ledesma once again likely to be on the bench as his wait for a debut continues.

Bolton:

Form in Championship: DLWLLL
Form in all competitions: LLWLLL

Possible starting lineup: Amos; Vela, Wheater, Mills, Moxey; Janko, Danns, Bannan, Feeney; Clough; Le Fondre

Brighton:

Recent form: LLDDWW

Possible starting lineup: Stockdale; Bruno, Greer, Dunk, Bennett; Ince, Kayal, Calderon, Teixeira, Baldock; Mackail-Smith

Sports Mole says: 2-1