Steve Bruce says he will not be exchanging pleasantries with counterpart Sam Allardyce until the final whistle blows tomorrow evening when Birmingham City's Premier-ship survival quest reaches the critical stage.

After procuring an unexpected bonus point against Chelsea, Bruce's squad entertain Bolton Wanderers with a caveat from their upbeat manager. Despite describing Saturday as one of his 'proudest moments', Bruce is fully aware that a defeat against Bolton will abrogate all their good work.

Victory would propel them above West Bromwich Albion and Portsmouth and out of the relegation zone with six games remaining.

Jiri Jarosik is available once again while David Dunn, Mario Melchiot and Muzzy Izzet could all return to the fray.

Even though Bruce eulogised about his side's performance, he stressed he would make changes if he believed fresh legs were needed against Bolton.

"This [result] means nothing if we can't get a result from Bolton on Tuesday," Bruce said. "They are going well at present and it is a big ask. Let's hope we can add one or two individuals to see if we can freshen us up, as there are some tired bodies out there.

"It is our game in hand and we can get out of the bottom three and, with six games to go, that would give everyone a marvellous tonic. We have been in the bottom three since September.

"I've not spoken to Sam and I'm not likely to. There are no favours. We all know that he and Robbo [Albion manager Bryan Robson] are two of my best mates but, when it comes to the pitch on a Saturday, we do what we have to do and that is what we are paid for."

Whatever squad Bruce has at his disposal tomorrow evening there are no guarantees for any players.

Such was the impressive nature of Birmingham's draw - and Bruce's proposed style for the remainder of the campaign - some players could find themselves consigned to bit-part roles for the duration.

Bruce said: "We had to go back to the basics and you are relying on the players who have been with you a long, long time.

"Cunningham, Tebily, Sadler, Johnson and Clemence. All those people have been with me a long, long time.

"The one thing we had to restore was that attitude of being difficult to beat. I'll make no bones about it. I always know what I am going to get off them and today they gave every-thing they could.

"The one thing you are looking to do is lift everyone around you and give a bit of belief back. My staff and I have worked really hard to say 'come on lads, we are all in this together, let's stick together' and create a bit of a siege mentality.

"It just proves that this game is a roller-coaster. The last home game was the worst night of your life in terms of football. Today was one of the proudest ones with the problems we had and the makeshift team we put out. They rolled their sleeves up and gave it everything they possibly could for the cause."

Bruce paid a gushing tribute to Olivier Tebily claiming he "produced the biggest and best display for me".

"For me, Tebily set the whole scene of the afternoon. The crowd went with him," said the manager. "They admire his enthusiasm. Yes, they gasp at times when sometimes he over- indulges.

"But we bought him to get us promoted and in our hour of need we still called on him."

However, the manager was also quick to recognise the contribution of two other members of his back four.

Martin Taylor received horrendous levels of criticism following the 7-0 FA Cup defeat against Liverpool but was a huge presence in denying Didier Drogba and company. Alongside him, Mat Sadler made his first Premiership appearance since December 2002.

"It was Sadler's first game in three years in the Premier League. He has come in and done fantastically well, which he had to against the likes of Duff, Robben and Cole," added Bruce.