bbc sports TEAM NEWS
Birmingham's Alexander Hleb is facing a scan on the hamstring he injured against Fulham and is unlikely to be fit for Wednesday's match.
Manager Alex McLeish is likely to field the strongest side he has available, despite picking reserve sides in previous rounds.
Aston Villa forward Gabriel Agbonlahor has recovered from illness, and James Collins has overcome a calf strain.
Midfielder Stephen Ireland has a sickness bug and will not play.
MATCH PREVIEW
These Second City rivals lock horns for the 11th time in cup competitions. Birmingham have managed just one win over Aston Villa in their previous 10 cup clashes, but it secured the only major trophy in their history - the 1963 League Cup.
The closest they have come to winning more silverware ended in disappointment when a Liverpool side, managed by Gerard Houllier, beat the Blues on penalties in 2001.
Now in charge of Villa, the Frenchman's start to life at the club has been beset by injury problems within his squad. But despite having 10 first-team players out, they stand on the brink of reaching the League Cup semi-finals for a record 14th time.
Birmingham boss Alex McLeish has been blasé about this competition and would put league survival above the chance of silverware, stating: "If we lifted the Carling Cup and we were relegated, that would be a disaster".
He has also been forthright about the limited impact of his big-name summer signings, admitting Alexander Hleb was embarrassed when left out of the starting line-up for the recent shock win over champions Chelsea, and telling £6m forward Nikola Zigic he needs to be more aggressive.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• This is the 120th competitive meeting of these sides. Birmingham have won 37 and Aston Villa 52, with 30 draws.
• Villa's record streak of six straight wins in this fixture was ended by a goalless draw in the Premier League on 31 October.
• The Blues have not scored in their last three meetings with Villa, and have not beaten their rivals since a 2-0 home triumph in the top flight in March 2005.
• Birmingham's only cup win over Villa came in the first leg of the 1963 League Cup final. The Blues won 3-1 and then drew the return leg to lift their only major trophy to date.
Birmingham
• They are playing in the quarter-finals for the first time in five seasons, and are targeting a fifth semi-final appearance, and their first since finishing runners-up in 2001.
• Alex McLeish's side have won only two of their last eight outings in league and cup, but have avoided defeat in seven of those matches.
• Birmingham have won two and drawn two of their last four home games, and have not lost in front of their home supporters since Everton's 2-0 Premier League victory on 2 October.
Aston Villa
• Aston Villa, last season's runners-up, are looking for a record 14th appearance in the League Cup semi-finals.
• This is Villa's first away tie in this season's competition, having already defeated fellow Premier League Blackburn and Championship Burnley at Villa Park, although the latter took them to extra time.
• Gerard Houllier won the League Cup with Liverpool 2001 and 2003.
Poll
