Steven Schumacher has pledged to keep mixing and matching at Wanderers as he maps out two potential trips to Wembley.

The Wanderers head coach is eyeing a win at Wrexham tonight in the Vertu Trophy in order to book a semi-final date with Peterborough United at home in two weeks.

And the club’s main focus remains on promotion to the Championship by any means necessary, which looks increasingly like being a tilt at the play-offs.

Schumacher has only taken charge of two games to date but has already shown a willingness to switch formations and tactics, depending on circumstances.

And he has vowed to continue keeping everyone on their toes as he prepares to face ex-Bolton boss Phil Parkinson at the Racecourse Ground.

“Over the years I have been doing this I have shown my teams can be adaptable,” he told The Bolton News. “When we just missed out on the play-offs and got 80 points at Plymouth and I’d just taken over from Ryan (Lowe) we played 3-5-2, did it pretty well.

“The following year we played 3-4-3 and won the league, then the year in the Championship with Argyle we started with a 4-3-3 and two attacking eights, and then when I went to Stoke we played 4-2-3-1 predominantly and used the back three on certain occasions.

“Understanding the systems and understanding what the opposition do, what is the best team and what is the best system to try and break them down, I think that would be one of my strengths, and our strengths as a whole staff.

“Sometimes a game doesn't go exactly how you planned it and you've got to be able to adapt.”

Inheriting a squad that had played almost exclusively 3-5-2 under Ian Evatt for the last few seasons, big questions were asked about whether the players could handle a mid-season switch in approach.

Schumacher remains confident, however, that he has the quality available to play different systems depending on opposition.

“When I was going through the interview process it was one of the things that I said to Chris Markham and to Nick (Lukcock) and then over with Sharon (Brittan), the strength and depth in the squad is really good and in my opinion it could play loads of different ways.

“That was exciting to me, and it kind of showed that a little bit at the weekend. The players just slotted into it seamlessly.

“I think if you explain your principles and your non-negotiables then it doesn't really matter what system you play, you'll find a way to win.”

Against Crawley Bolton used inverted wingers in a 4-4-2 and finished up with 3-5-2, but agreeing with the old Brian Clough quote, Schumacher believes folk can get carried away by discussing tactical systems.

“I think you can get bogged down with the numbers,” he said. “A 3-5-2 or a 3-4-3 in different games might look slightly different depending on how you decide to press or how you decide to try and create overloads and build.

“As long as the players get a good grasp of it and you are clear with your messages then you will normally be alright.”