Reading need to stave off the threat of Premiership relegation while Wigan and Steve Bruce know a victory will guarantee them another year in the top flight. Steve Coppell knows his side must win after their drastic fall from grace in the Premiership this year.

It's an absolutely crucial game for both sides - both looking for points to secure their top flight futures. Steve Coppell knows his job probably isn't the most secure at this stage.


Heskey (hamstring) and Bent (cut leg) both went off injured in last week's 1-1 draw against Tottenham but look fit to return for this crucial game at the JJB.

Erik Hagen is available again following illness, but Erik Edman is definitely going to miss out.


Brynjar Gunnarsson has already been ruled out of the JJB Stadium, Nicky Shorey and winger Stephen Hunt are expected to be recalled.


Squads
Wigan (from): Kirkland, Melchiot, Scharner, Boyce, Kilbane, Valencia, Brown, Palacios, Taylor, Bent, Heskey, Koumas, Skoko, King, Sibierski, Pollitt, Aghahowa, Bramble, Figueroa, Hagen, Olembe.

Reading (from): Hahnemann, Federici, Murty, de la Cruz, Sonko, Bikey, Ingimarsson, Duberry, Shorey, Rosenior, Doyle, Oster, Little, Harper, Cisse, Matejovsky, Fae, Hunt, Convey, Kitson, Lita, Long.