The Athletic sports writer Gregg Evans believes Aston Villa will be optimistic heading into Tuesday's Carabao Cup Semi-Final second leg against Leicester City at Villa Park.

- Leicester City travel to Aston Villa for the second leg of their Carabao Cup Semi-Final on Tuesday (7:45pm kick-off)

- The Athletic sports writer Gregg Evans, a close follower of Villa's fortunes, has previewed the fixture

- Evans says Dean Smith's men will be confident of defeating the Foxes at Villa Park

- Live coverage begins at 4:45pm on Tuesday on LCFC Radio, with Matt Elliott, Steve Walsh and Gerry Taggart

The two-legged tie, which continues at 7:45pm on Tuesday, currently stands at 1-1 after Kelechi Iheanacho equalised Frédéric Guilbert's opener at King Power Stadium three weeks ago.

Both Villa and Leicester have enjoyed morale-boosting victories over the weeks which followed their first leg clash - and Evans says Dean Smith's hosts will approach the tie with freedom.

"The fact that results have picked up in the last couple of weeks has given them more freedom and there’s a feel-good factor around Villa Park again now," he told LCFC.com.

"In the first leg, there wasn’t. There was a real concern about relegation and about what was coming up in the games to come, and although it was a first leg, it felt like a distraction.

I don’t think Villa will be quite as dominant in terms of possession and attacking intent as Leicester were in the first leg. I expect them to take the game more to Leicester this time. Gregg Evans The Athletic

"That’s because the priority was picking up results in the Premier League, but now Villa have done that, they’re going into this second leg really buoyant.

"It’s really exciting and they actually feel like they’re favourites, which is a bit of a turnaround, because Leicester were absolutely flying ahead of that first leg.

"I think they’ll be a bit more positive, more attack-minded than the first leg, because they sat back quite deep and invited Leicester onto them at King Power Stadium.

"They’ll want to show more of what they’re about tonight. I don’t think Villa will be quite as dominant in terms of possession and attacking intent as Leicester were in the first leg.

Expand photo Pepe Reina Pepe Reina is one recent signing who has settled quickly at Villa Park.

"I expect them to take the game more to Leicester this time, though. Against Watford last time out, it was probably the first time in five or six weeks that Villa dominated possession.

"That’s given them confidence and that last-minute winner has added to the feel-good factor as well, so I expect them to go for it a bit more.

"They feel like, because they’ve got the draw away from home, they are going into a one-off game knowing that they have to win it, but they could have been behind in this game."

Smith has spoken this week about having considerably more selection options than previous weeks for the visit of Leicester, despite three long-term absentees.

Having striker options is a big bonus for Smith after signing Ally Samatta last week and Keinan Davis is back available for Villa as well. Gregg Evans The Athletic

"It’s good to finally have options," Evans added. "He’s still obviously without three really key players – Tom Heaton, John McGinn and Wesley.

"To lose your no.1 goalkeeper, probably your best midfielder and your record signing is always going to be difficult, so Villa have had to respond this January.

"They’ve got a couple in. Pepe Reina’s settled in easily, but Danny Drinkwater won’t be able to play against his former club because he’s cup tied.

"Having striker options is a big bonus for Smith after signing Ally Samatta last week and Keinan Davis is back available for Villa as well.

Expand photo Aston Villa The Villa Park atmosphere could be a useful took for the home side on Tuesday.

"They’ve played the last four games without a recognised striker, which is quite incredible really in this day and age, but they finally have two available which is brilliant."

The Foxes will need no reminder that a raucous atmosphere awaits at Villa Park on Tuesday, something Evans says has helped them on several important occasions over previous seasons.

"It’s a bit of a cliché to talk about Villa Park under the lights, but the fans really do turn up for the night games and they have a great record in semi-final second leg night games," he continued.

"The omens are with them and the atmosphere will be red hot. I’ve been lucky enough to be at Villa Park for important semi-finals and they really turn up and get behind the team."

All times GMT.