The former Bristol City striker has not played that much during the summer and still is not at his sharpest due to a knock he picked up in the play-off final last season and an extended break.
But the newly de-mulleted hitman is expected to make some sort of appearance in a cameo role with either Proudlock or last season's player of the year Ndumbu-Nsungu partnering ex-Rangers star Steve MacLean in attack.
Proudlock had one of his best games for a while in the 6-3 defeat to Everton and scored Wednesday's equaliser whist the Congolese enigma Ndumbu-Nsungu hit a brace and looked lively in leading the line.
Matt Hamshaw will start in midfield having knocked Lewis McMahon out of contention due to his lack of form in pre-season - his partner in the middle will be Chris Marsden, who's experience will come in vital this season.
In other news, former kop hero Emerson Thome has signed for Wigan after he failed to agree terms with Bolton Wanderers and Shefki Kuqi wants to stay at Ipswich Town despite the fact German team Hansa Rostock want that particular horse for their stables.
Elsewhere, Sven-Goran Eriksson's job as England coach will be put under scrutiny today and one man who will be influential in the FA's enquiries for the most over-hyped news story of the decade will be Wednesday's former bumbling chairman Dave Richards, who is on the FA board of directors.