Blues completed a seasons double over the Villa with a 2-0 win at Villa Park last March but the Blues boss in convinced that Villa will be up for it a little more than they were last season.
"I think its going to be different this time round, I think Villa will be ready " Bruce told Sky Sports News.
"I think last year they may have thought they just probably had to show up to get a result but we proved to be better than that.
"I detect that this year they're going to be ready for the occasion."