The Swede has spent seven fabulous years at Villa which includes tenure as skipper.
Saturday's game will see his final appearance at
Mellberg joined Villa after the club was forced to sell rebels Ugo Ehiogu and Gareth Southgate to
The Boro bound pair looked to be difficult acts to follow, but the rugged centre back fitted in supremely and became one of the finest defenders in the Premier League.
He has helped the club to a League Cup semi-final and is aiming to achieve a European spot in his last season at
Although Mellberg is predominantly a centre back he has been playing in Villa's problematic right back slot during this campaign and his displays have been more than admirable.
He agreed a move in January after long and arduous speculation about his future but it has not affected the Swede's performances.
Mellberg will receive one of the biggest send offs that Villa Park has ever seen against
The atmosphere should be electric as Villa look for a win which would place them in fifth with Everton playing at Arsenal on Sunday.
Belongs
The Claret and Blue have been on a fine run of late with three wins from the last four games.
They claimed a valiant 2-2 draw at
Villa have already done the double over Bruce as they won 2-1 in November, when he was manager of Birmingham City, and triumphed by the same score at the JJB in December.
Wigan have been over-reliant on their home form this season and haven't won away since their 1-0 victory at lowly
Steve Bruce's side threw a spanner in the
But Villa will be clear favourites and know a win would give them a psychological edge over Everton.
The home side have a doubt over Mellberg, of all people, for the crucial clash.
He has been under the weather for the last couple of days but as all Villa fans will know, he won't give up on the game lightly.
If Mellberg fails to recover, Nigel Reo-Coker should play at right back as Craig Gardner is still injured.
Former Blues man Emile Heskey should be fit for the visitors, but his fellow ex-Birmingham man Mario Melchiot misses out.
Ryan Taylor will replace Melchiot meaning Bruce will be forced into a reshuffle.
But, the game belongs to Mellberg and whether the great defender is fit to play or not, he will make an appearance on the pitch at some stage.
Even if he is restricted to an appearance in a suit, Mellberg will make it his moment at
Villa will be hoping to meet Mellberg again some day and a win against