Blues playmaker Alexander Hleb has been declared fit for the derby clash.
The on-loan Barcelona player suffered a knee injury during last Saturday's 2-0 home success over Blackpool but is named in Alex McLeish's squad.
Midfielder Michel has shaken off a kick on the shin suffered against Brentford in the midweek Carling Cup tie but Cameron Jerome (ankle), Jean Beausejour (knee) and James McFadden (knee) are long-term absentees.
Aston Villa left-back Stephen Warnock will return after suspension.
The former Liverpool player was banned for the midweek Carling Cup win over Burnley after incurring five bookings.
Striker Gabriel Agbonlahor (groin), captain Stiliyan Petrov (knee) and defender Luke Young (hamstring) are injured and midfielder Marc Albrighton is banned but boss Gerard Houllier hopes striker John Carew will have recovered from the bout of flu which ruled him out against the Clarets.
Aston Villa (from): Friedel, Beye, Dunne, Collins, Warnock, Downing, Reo-Coker, Sidwell, Ashley Young, Ireland, Heskey, Guzan, Cuellar, Clark, Carew, Delfouneso, Lichaj, Bannan, Hogg.
Birmingham (from): Foster, Carr, Dann, Johnson, Ridgewell, Larsson, Ferguson, Fahey, Gardner, Hleb, Zigic, Taylor, Parnaby, Bowyer, Michel, Phillips, Derbyshire, O'Connor, Murphy, Jiranek.
