PLYMOUTH Argyle's injury-hit front- runner Bradley Wright-Phillips may make his long-awaited first competitive starting appearance at Home Park for the Pilgrims tonight.

The 25-year-old former Manchester City and Southampton striker came to the Westcountry last summer, and was expected to play a key part in Argyle's quest for Coca-Cola Championship points this term. A pre-season knee injury which required an operation and a lengthy rehabilitation has made him a spectator on match-days for much of the campaign, however.

Now, Wright-Phillips is fully fit at last, and he made an industrious first senior start for the Pilgrims in last Saturday's 1-1 draw at Coventry City. He was substituted late in the game when he began to tire, in order to keep him in good shape for this evening's home match against Bristol City.

"Bradley seems to have come through Saturday's game OK," Argyle head coach Paul Mariner said yesterday. "I don't want to categorically say that people are going to play, but he does seem to have come through all right."

Argyle winger Yannick Bolasie also made his full debut for the Devon club at the weekend. He was arguably the pick of the Pilgrims at Ricoh Arena. With Craig Noone unavailable because of a knee problem, Bolasie ought to keep his place in the starting XI. There are no guarantees of that, though.

When Mariner was asked if Argyle's fans were going to see Bolasie from the start tonight, he said: "Maybe. You have to be careful with young players. They do tend to be up and down. I'm not saying Bolasie is going to do that, but young players do tend to have a flying game and then have a drop-off."

After Wright-Phillips was withdrawn at Coventry, Bolasie vacated the flanks and moved into the middle of the attack, alongside Jamie Mackie. Mariner added: "We just thought, with him roaming up there with Jamie, something might just be able to break.

"If Jamie got a flick, or if a ball was played through, we thought his pace might get him on to it. He [Bolasie] almost scored late on [against the Sky Blues] with a volley, with tremendous technique. He's an unknown quantity, as far as the opposition is concerned."

Even without Noone, Mariner has plenty of attacking players to choose from. The head coach is not so well off when it comes to central defenders. Krisztian Timar is a long-term absentee, Kari Arnason is a doubt tonight, and Réda Johnson is fit but has not played this month. In the circumstances, the latest addition to Bristol City's squad could pose a major threat this evening.

Chris Iwelumo rejoined Wolverhampton Wanderers yesterday, after a spell on loan at Ashton Gate. The 6ft 4in striker has been replaced by an even taller target man from Molineux.

The Robins have borrowed 6ft 7½in Austria international Stefan Maierhofer from Wolves, and he will be available this evening. He will pose an obvious threat to whoever plays at the back for Plymouth, but Argyle's head coach is more concerned about making sure that his side try to grasp the initiative against their mid-table opponents.

"We have to be on the front foot again, just as we were on Saturday," Mariner said. "We have to be concerned about what we do. I'm not saying it's going to be a gung-ho approach from us, certainly not, but we're at home and we need to ignite the crowd. We need to come out with all our guns blazing."

With Mackie and Wright-Phillips as their front two and Rory Fallon left on the substitutes' bench, Argyle were obliged to try to attack on the ground, when they were able to press forward on Saturday. They did not have Fallon as a target for high balls.

Asked for his verdict, Mariner said: "I thought we did very well. I thought it was pleasing to the eye, and we have got players who like to get it down and play it. The good thing about the system was that the front players held up the ball well, and they linked up well with the midfield players.

"When you have the outlet of a winger like Bolasie, it's always a good option. We were pleased with the balance." Argyle will remain in the relegation zone, whatever the outcome tonight, while Bristol City could climb into the top half of the table if they win at Home Park for the second season in a row.

ARGYLE and West Bromwich Albion were yesterday fined by a Football Association disciplinary commission, having been charged with failure to control their players during the Championship fixture between the two sides at Home Park last month. Both clubs were fined £12,500, with £7,500 of that amount being suspended until the end of next season.

THE Pilgrims will send a reserve team to Neath RFC to take on Swansea City's second XI in a Totesport.com Combination fixture tomorrow (2pm).

ARGYLE'S former England youth international striker Liam Head is joining Southern League club Tiverton Town on loan. The Devon-born 18-year-old is a first-year professional at Home Park, but he has not featured in the Pilgrims' first-team squad.