Head where it hurts for defender

The 22-year-old returns to Millwall tomorrow, for the first time since being knocked out in the Saddlers' 3-1 defeat in April.

Smith clashed with Lions goalkeeper David Forde and needed seven minutes of treatment before being taken to hospital.

But the centre-back reckons the incident hasn't affected him and would never shirk a challenge.

He said: "As a defender you have to cope with it, you have to deal with cuts and bruises and I'll still do it again. If the ball is there to be won I'll still go for it – I'll be in the mix.

"It's something you have to go through. You don't want to see defenders pulling out or not going for balls you should get.

"You need to put your head and heart on the line and try to stop everything. As a defender the main thing is to defend. If you get knocked out, you get knocked out."

Smith's injury concerned management and fans and admits, once given the all clear and picked up from hospital his team-mates were relieved in more ways than one.

He said: "They waited around for a few hours, so we didn't get back until late and it ruined everyone's plans. When I got back on the coach they were all cheering, happy to see me back and happy to get out of Millwall as well!"

The Saddlers return to the New Den a point and two spots above their 10th-placed hosts – who are ravaged by injury.

Striker Neil Harris is a major doubt with a groin problem while Gary Alexander (ankle), Tony Craig (cheekbone), Danny Senda (ankle), Zak Whitbread (calf) could all be sidelined.

Smith believes the Saddlers are facing the Lions at the perfect time – but knows they cannot relax.

He said: "It's a good time to be playing them. We have just lost and are looking to bounce back and beat the next team. Millwall is a tough place to go but we're going to go there and give 100 per cent to get something out the game.

"It's a bonus they've got injuries but if someone comes in they will want to stake their claim and prove what they can do. It's up to the back four to stop what they are going to throw at us."

While Millwall are struggling for numbers, the Saddlers have a clean bill of health following Jamie Vincent and Richard Taundry's return from lay-offs in the reserves this week.

Striker Troy Deeney is suspended with Sam Parkin or Alex Nicholls vying to replace him and boss Chris Hutchings is pleased to have options at his disposal.

He said: "We've had a settled side recently, so sometimes you are loath to change things, but when you get Taundry and Jamie back it gives you something to think about.

"There was one stage of the season where we had six or seven injuries, if you look at Millwall they've had that scenario and have had to chop and change.

"They've had to wait for their better players to come back into the side, which we all do, and have been a little up and down.

"But they had a good result on Wednesday so they'll be going into the game full of confidence."

Whoever starts will have to breach a Lions defence which kept a first clean sheet since October in Wednesday's 4-0 FA Cup second round replay win over Staines.

Kenny Jackett's men have won just two of their last seven games to slip down the table and the Cup victory handed them a third round tie with Derby.

But assistant boss Joe Gallen reckons their priority is promotion after losing last season's play-off final to Scunthorpe.

He said: "There is no doubt that everyone's focus is on trying to get promotion, that's it. These games against the likes of Staines are when you think, 'I dare not lose this one', and we then look for a big draw because financially it is important that you progress.

"As it has landed we have got Derby at home, and that's a game we think we can win. While the chief executive's mind may be on the Cup, all of our thoughts are on Walsall and the league."