Young striker Alex Nicholls could be given a rare chance to show what he can do in his favourite position when Walsall take on Oldham Athletic in the final Coca Cola League One match of the season at the Banks's Stadium on Saturday (3pm). He is standing by to play up front because leading scorers Michael Ricketts and Jabo Ibehre are struggling to overcome injuries and are unlikely to be risked, with nothing at stake. Nicholls, 21, has made no secret of the fact that, although he has done a good job as an emergency right winger, he much prefers a striking role and his pace couldl unsettle the Latics' defence. He would make up a very young strike force with Troy Deeney who has scored an impressive 11 goals. Nicholls has six so far. Walsall can leapfrog Oldham and finish in a respectable tenth spot in the table if they win, and having picked up only one point from their last three home appearances, Chris Hutchings' men will be anxious to wrap up the season on a winning note. They showed what they can do by beating MK Dons away last week when Ibehre notched his 11th goal of the season and the defence, with Clayton Ince back in goal, kept a clean sheet. That result meant the Dons couldn't win automatic promotion and will have to compete in the play-offs. It also enabled Peterborough to clinch automatic promotion, so their fans and former Saddlers Dean Keates and Chris Westwood must be delighted. Tomorrow will mark the end of Joe Royle's second stint as manager of Oldham. He took over for the remaining games when John Sheridan was sacked, but he hasn't had a win in the eight played so far. Royle, who has no intention of seeking to hang onto the job, will be hoping to go out with a win over the Saddlers. But Hutchings'lads may ruin his day, just as they did MK Dons'. Certainly Walsall owe their fans a result at Bescot where they have lost nine league matches and three cup-ties in the current campaign. Former Saddler Mark Robins, manager of Rotherham United, is favourite to take over at Boundary Park. Hutchings may be tempted to give some of his promising youngsters an opportunity to show what they can do at some stage in the match, depending on how thigns are going. The Walsall starting line-up is expected to be chosen from: Ince, Weston, Smith, Gerrard, Palmer, Bradley, Mattis, Hughes, Zaaboub, Nicholls, Deeney, Ibehre, Ricketts, Boertien, Taundry, Sansara, Gilmartin. *Walsall's promising young striker Richard Peniket, 16, has been sold to Premiership Fulham for an undisclosed fee. * Saddlers' midfielder Mark Bradley has played an important part in Welsh football history by helping the under-21s qualify for the European Championship play-offs with a 3-0 win in Romania. He set up the third goal. * The end-of-the-season awards dinner will be held in the Stadium Suite at the Banks's Stadium on Sunday May 3. Awards, including player-of-the-season, will be presented and the evening will end with entertainment by comedian John Stiles, son of Nobby. | 
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