Shrewsbury Town's clash with Bolton a family affair for Joe Riley

The 25-year-old progressed through the youth set-up with Wanderers and went on to make nine first-team appearances,

Riley has family that are Bolton supporters and, while their allegiances will be tested at Greenhous Meadow tomorrow, nothing will give the marauding right-back more satisfaction than to put a spanner in their automatic promotion hopes.

"I've looked at it on the calendar a bit, but my family have probably been talking about it more!" He said. "I don't know how many tickets I need to get for tomorrow, half my family are Bolton fans.

"I want to put a spanner in their works. I'm not a Bolton fan myself, they've got their aspirations but we've got ours and we have to stay in the league.

"I'd find them in the crowd if I scored but they'll support me – I know they will."

Bolton are a different prospect to the side Riley left in 2015. Indeed, a wretched run of injuries meant that his first-team appearances at the Macron – then-Reebok Stadium – came in 2011 and 2012.

He recalls only academy manager Jimmy Phillips still in the set-up, while first-team bosses Owen Coyle, Dougie Freeman and Gary Megson have all moved on. One constant is Riley's 'best friend in football' Josh Vela.

The attacker went through the ranks with Town's No.2 and has been one of League One's star turns this season – netting 10 times, all from open play.

"We speak a lot," he added. "He scored a great goal in the 94th minute (against Oxford on Tuesday), he's had a really good season but it's only what's been expected of him. Everyone expected for him to rip it up at this level and he's done that."

Riley has admitted to being made to feel 'at home' by Shrewsbury in his first season, where he has gained plenty of admirers, making 30 appearances – despite missing two months with a knee injury shortly after Paul Hurst's arrival.

"I've got two 90 minutes under my belt (since a recent hamstring strain) so I'm fit and raring to go again," he said.

"We would've taken this position when the gaffer came in. It's been a disappointing three games and we knew it was going to go to the wire, it's proven to be like that. We've got to stand up and be counted.

"I don't think you'd be human if you didn't feel a bit of nerves but you've got to use them in the right way.

"It's a relegation battle, you can't shy away. Hopefully it brings out the best in people and is a learning experience for those that haven't been in one.

"We got relegated from Bolton in the Premier League. It's not a good experience."

Phil Parkinson's side have found their form at the right time and look like a daunting prospect for Town, who have kept just one clean sheet in 10 games.

Bolton's outstanding away form has seen them net four times in each of their previous three league travels.

"They're a big club," Riley added. "It looks like they've got back on track and we're probably playing them at the worst time possible!

"But it's a game where we fancy our chances. Our home form's been terrific and long may that continue.

"It's all to play for and we're not going to shy away from that."