Alex McLeish will be looking to take Birmingham to the semi-finals of the tournament for the first time since 2001, when Trevor Francis side reached the final, only to lose on penalties to the now Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier's Liverpool.
With no trophy in 47 years, Blues fans will be looking for a victory against their most hated rivals which will put them into the semi-finals and within touching distance of a trip to Wembley.
With Ben Foster and Roger Johnson in terrific form at the back, and former Villa duo Craig Gardner and Liam Ridgewell having been impressive thus far this season, the Blues' defensive and midfield strength will look to overpower Villa's more considered passing approach.
Against an injury-hit Villa side, and having beaten league champions Chelsea in their last match at St Andrew's, confidence will be high amongst McLeish's men, and having gained a credible draw at Villa Park earlier this season, they'll fancy nicking a win in front of a packed house, on a cold night in Birmingham.
Young guns impressing
Aston Villa's young players have been earning themselves plaudits this season, but Gerard Houllier's side have been struggling for consistency, which is indicative of young players who have been thrust into the action.
The likes of Barry Bannan, Ciaran Clark and Marc Albrighton have all been very impressive thus far for the most part, whilst senior colleagues have either been a) dropping like flies through injury or b) struggling to find their best form.
Ashley Young is seemingly spending his time pining for a move away or arguing with referees, whilst the defensive duo of James Collins and Richard Dunne, which seemed so secure last season, have not kept to those high standards, whilst Stephen Ireland's Villa career simply hasn't started.
Houllier has been trying to press home his own philosophy at Villa Park, with the Villains playing a more expansive passing game under the Frenchman, having been committed to counter-attacking under former boss Martin O'Neill.
The former Liverpool and Olympique Lyonnais boss has been hampered by injuries to key players, particularly the pacey Garbriel Agbonlahor, which has blunted Villa at the sharp end of the pitch, and the destructive midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker, whom he appears to favour over Stilian Petrov.
With Villa having lost five of their seven away games this season - their only away win coming in the West Midlands derby against Wolves - Houllier and last season's finalists are desperate for a win here.
TEAM NEWS
Birmingham City
Alex McLeish is looking to balance the League Cup run with a successful survival battle, as relegation would be a 'disaster' for the Blues boss.
McLeish may make changes to his Birmingham line-up from the weekend draw at Fulham as he has rotated in the competition, although in all likeliness he may play as strong a side as possible.
Alexander Hleb is unavailable with a hamstring injury, whilst James McFadden remains on the long-term casualty list.
Possible starting XI: Foster; Carr, Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell; Larsson, Ferguson, Gardner, Bowyer, Fahey; Jerome.
Aston Villa
Gerard Houllier has a long injury list which will mean that he is unable to rotate his starting line-up and will have to stick with the likes of young stars Ciaran Clark and Barry Bannan.
James Collins should be fit to start, despite aggravating a calf problem in Saturday's 4-2 loss to Arsenal, whilst Houllier will be hopeful derby-day specialist Gabriel Agbonlahor will be fit to play some part.
Club skipper Stilian Petrov is out until the new year, whilst the likes of Nigel Reo-Coker, Steve Sidwell, Marc Albrighton, Fabian Delph and Emile Heskey will all be missing also.
Possible starting XI: Friedel; L Young, Collins, Dunne, Warnock; Downing, Clark, Bannan, Ireland, A Young; Agbonlahor.
Prediction
Birmingham 2-2 Aston Villa 
