Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish is likely to rotate his squad for the game against the League One Latics.
That could mean recalls for defenders Jamie Carragher and Sebastian Coates, who have not started since the Carling Cup win at Chelsea in late November.
Striker Luis Suarez serves the second game of an eight-match ban, but captain Steven Gerrard will probably be given another chance to continue building up his sharpness having made three substitute appearances following his comeback from an ankle infection.
Oldham manager Paul Dickov expects to have on-loan trio Luca Scapuzzi, Tom Adeyemi and Nathan Clarke available for the game.
The players' loans expire ahead of the tie, but Dickov is confident that respective agreements with Manchester City, Norwich and Huddersfield will be reached to make them eligible for selection at Anfield.
"Hopefully that will be done so they will be available," said the Latics boss at a Thursday press conference. "Nathan, Luca and young Tom will hopefully be sorted out today."
Midfielder James Wesolowski is expected to recover from a dislocated shoulder to contest a place in the starting line-up having taken part in a practice match on Wednesday.
Striker Matt Smith scored on his first start since August in the 1-1 draw with Chesterfield on Monday but is expected to make way for top scorer Shefki Kuqi, and Dickov admits he is suffering from selection headaches.
"The good thing for me is that I've got more or less a fully fit squad to pick from," he said. "The sad thing for me is I'm going to have to leave a couple of players out of the starting XI and the 18 who work ever so hard for me, which isn't going to be nice, but that's my job as a manager."
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