No let up from Di Matteo at Bury

The Baggies begin their Carling Cup campaign at Gigg Lane in the second of six matches already inked in for August.

That number will become seven if they progress to the second round tonight and the head coach believes the hectic opening month will test the strength of his Hawthorns squad.

Di Matteo said: "We are going to need everybody in the squad and everybody is important.

"It's not just about the first-team. The squad is about the 20 or 21 people who are in it and it's important that everybody is supportive.

"When you don't play you have to support the people who are playing, and when it's your turn you have to try your best for the team.

"I will pick the team that I think is strongest to beat each team on that given day. After that we will move on to the next game."

The squad will be stretched to the limit this evening with five players missing because of international duty.

Although Abdoulaye Meite is down the Hawthorns pecking order at present, the other four absentees – Marek Cech, Robert Koren, Youssouf Mulumbu and Chris Brunt – could all have figured this evening.

Cech's absence opens the door for new signing Joe Mattock to make his debut and a good performance could nudge him ahead in the battle for the left-back slot.

Filipe Teixeira and Graham Dorrans are likely to replace Koren and Mulumbu, while Brunt's absence could hand a Baggies debut to recent signing Reuben Reid out wide.

Changes are an inconvenience for Di Matteo, but he insists he is heading to Lancashire determined to progress.

The Albion boss said: "I want to get to the next round, it's as simple as that.

"It's a good competition and if you can get through to the later stages it can get very exciting.

"Every year you get teams from outside the Premier League who have a good cup run and there is a different atmosphere in a cup game, whether it's a domestic cup or an international cup.

"If we can get to the later rounds it will be good for us. I saw Bury a little bit last year and they have only had one game this year.

"But this is a game in which we have to be very professional, prepare properly and be focused on the game, otherwise it can backfire.

"It's about mental preparation for the players, they have to find a motivation from within themselves."

The game will pit Albion against a boyhood Baggies fan, with Shakers new-boy Simon Johnson desperate for a taste of the action.

The West Bromwich-based winger signed in the summer after leaving Leeds and he is likely to be among the substitutes.

Johnson said: "I was born in West Brom and I am a lifetime fan, so it will be a decent game to be involved in.

"I have only played against the Baggies, before at reserve level and I am really looking forward to it.

"They have got Premier League players, but it's a chance for the lads to bounce back from Saturday (a 3-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth) against tough opposition.

"The game is on Sky and, as players, you have to make the most of chances like this because you never know who is watching."

Midfielder David Worrall, who is back at Bury on loan from Albion, is not eligible to play.