The midfielder missed last weekend's draw with Tottenham and a week's training following a family bereavement.
James Morrison serves the second of a three-game suspension following his sending-off at Liverpool while Joe Mattock (foot), Ishmael Miller (thigh) and Marek Cech (foot) also miss out.
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There was some good news for Di Matteo, though, with Mattock returning to full training this week and Miller also stepping up his comeback.
Di Matteo believes the Baggies can be satisfied with their start to life back in the Barclays Premier League. With Aston Villa and Wolves also in the top flight, The Hawthorns match is the first of many west midlands clashes, and, although their three local rivals have received most of the attention so far,
Di Matteo feels his players have plenty to be proud of. West Brom have picked up four points from a tricky opening month that has seen them face Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham, meaning they go into the match only two points behind Birmingham, who are unbeaten.
The Italian said: "I think considering the teams we have played in the four games so far, we can be satisfied with the points we've got, if not happy. We could have had no points or one point from the fixtures we've had.
"Derbies have no rules. I think they add spice to the games. There are no favourites as far as my experience goes. If one team is second and you're bottom, then it means nothing. They are special and anything can happen."
Birmingham showed last season what can be achieved by teams coming up from the Championship with a stellar campaign that saw them eventually finish ninth.
New Birmingham signings Alexander Hleb and Jean Beausejour are both fit to play, although the latter will start on the bench due to jet lag and a lack of training time.
Hleb may still join him amongst the substitutes, as Alex McLeish is yet to decide whether the Belarus international will start the game due to his fitness level and the team's impressive performance against Liverpool on Sunday.
The match has come too soon for striker Kevin Phillips, who is back in full training, but not yet fit enough to face his former club. Stuart Parnaby has also resumed training.
Source: DSG
