With time running out for Millwall to launch a great escape from the Championship relegation zone, the club this week took the decision to sack Ian Holloway with 10 games remaining.
New boss Neil Harris will begin the almighty task of keeping his side in the division against Bolton Wanderers at the Macron Stadium this weekend, with the gap to safety now eight points.
Any late push for survival will require an immediate change in fortunes after Holloway's reign ended with four straight defeats and one point from the last 18 available.
How the Lions could do with a player like Harris himself on the field. The club's all-time top scorer will need to get the team firing again having seen them find the back of the net just three times in their last six outings.
Indeed, with 31 goals in 36 games, only Blackpool have scored fewer this season, while Millwall haven't scored more than one goal in a single league game since the end of November - 17 matches ago.
Couple that with 12 goals conceded in their last four outings and you have a recipe for failure that the inexperienced Harris will do well to change during his short stint at the end of the campaign.
Even if he is unable to keep them in the division, Harris may treat the final 10 games of the season as a chance to prove that he is worthy of the job beyond the end of the current campaign.
Starting his tenure away from home could actually help him considering the Lions have a better record on their travels than at home this season, but it is fair to assume that the new boss will get more vociferous support at The Den than his predecessor enjoyed.
Millwall have lost their last three on the road, however, and they are without a win at Bolton since 1973, scoring just four times in their nine subsequent visits.
Lee Gregory, who scored off the bench during his side's 4-1 home defeat to Norwich City last weekend, has been praised for his finishing ability by his new boss this week and could be one of a number of changes to the team.
Carlos Edwards remains sidelined, however, while Shaun Cummings and Lee Martin are both still doubts.
Bolton's 1-0 victory in the return fixture was part of an eight-match unbeaten streak for the Trotters that went a long way towards dragging them clear from the sort of danger Saturday's visitors find themselves in.
Indeed, the Lions will be hoping that Harris has a similar immediate effect as Neil Lennon had at the Macron, although the honeymoon period appears to be over for the former Celtic boss.
They have won just one of their last six and two of their last 12 outings in all competitions, including a late 1-0 defeat to the hands of local rivals Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday night that Lennon dubbed "unacceptable".
With 10 points separating them from the bottom three they are not completely safe just yet, and defeat to one of those clawing to get out of the danger zone this weekend could leave fans nervously looking over their shoulders.
In reality, though, their home form should be enough to keep them at a safe distance from the bottom three. They have lost just one of their last 12 games at the Macron, while the four matches they have lost at home this season have all come against the current top four in the table.
Bolton have been blighted by injuries in recent weeks, with promising youngster Zach Clough and Kevin McNaughton being ruled out until the end of the season, joining the likes of Max Clayton, Darren Pratley and Mark Davies on the sidelines.
David Wheater remains a doubt, but there was good news in the shape of Andy Lonergan, Liam Trotter and Craig Davies all returning to the bench in midweek, with the latter coming on for his first appearance in almost two months.
Lennon is unlikely to rush him back into a starting role, but Eidur Gudjohnsen could be in line for a recall with Emile Heskey's age counting against him for two games in a matter of days.
Bolton:
Recent form: LLLWDL
Possible starting lineup: Amos; Vela, Mills, McCarthy, Ream; Janko, Bannan, Feeney, Danns; Gudjohnsen, Le Fondre
Millwall:
Recent form: LDLLLL
Possible starting lineup: Forde; Abdou, Hooiveld, Dunne, Harding; Williams, Tonge, Woolford, O'Brien, Fabbrini; Gregory
Sports Mole says: 2-1
No Data Analysis info
