It's Derby Day for Wanderers on Saturday afternoon, as they go in search for a seventh straight home win in all competitions on Saturday (kick-off 12:30pm).
Ian Evatt's side welcome local rivals Wigan Athletic to the Toughsheet Community Stadium on the back of an impressive performance in the week, beating Huddersfield Town 3-1 to advance to the Round of 16 in the Vertu Trophy.
The Whites are now one point off the top six in Sky Bet League One after last weekend's game at Bristol Rovers was postponed due to Storm Darragh and sit 12 places above Wigan Athletic in the league table.
Despite their league position, Saturday's visitors have an excellent defensive record conceding just 16 goals, tied as the second-best defence in the league.
Manager Quotes
Ian Evatt: "We're looking forward to it and we know what it means to the fans, to the town, the bragging rights etc. We haven't got the right results against them in my tenure here, but I think it goes further back than that. We have to make sure we start to put that right.
"Football tends to give you opportunities and we've got that opportunity on Saturday. We know, regardless of league table standings and current form, derby games throw up strange results and different types of performances and we're expecting them to be right at it, so we have to be the same."
Wigan Athletic Boss Shaun Maloney: “This game is a Derby and will be completely frantic at the start of the game. Both sides will try and play through the other, and these are brilliant games.
“We have to go there and try and be the team we want to be. The brilliant thing about derbies is they can swing within periods. We have to find that this weekend and for the rest of the season."
Team News
No new injury concerns for Wanderers which will please Ian Evatt ahead of a busy Christmas schedule.
Scott Arfield injured his calf ahead of the Cambridge United game in late November but the midfielder is expected to return to training next week.
Wigan were dealt a huge injury blow to winger Dion Rankine who picked up a hamstring injury at home to Leyton Orient. The summer signing from Chelsea will now be out of first team consideration until April, joining fellow summer arrival Tyrese Francois on the sidelines until mid-2025.
Form Guide
Wanderers will be hoping that their sustained pressure hunting down the top six will finally pay off this weekend if they can secure victory over Wigan.
The goals are flowing at the Toughsheet Community Stadium for the Whites, with ten goals in their last four home games.
Shaun Maloney's side have lost their last two league games and have done so without scoring with Leyton Orient and Huddersfield Town taking maximum points on those two occasions. Their last outing was an exit in the Vertu Trophy in midweek, losing out to League Two side Chesterfield away from home.
The visitors will have to change that scoring statistic if they want to pull away from the relegation zone having scored just 15 goals, the second worst in League One.
Kick off
Saturday 12:30pm.
Referee
Adam Herczeg.
Herczeg has already officiated Wanderers this season where the Whites were victorious over Mansfield Town in Round One of the Carabao Cup back in August.
Tickets/Wanderers TV
Join over 24,000 who have already confirmed their place at Saturday's game. You don't want to miss this one so get your tickets HERE.
Audio passes will be available, as always, for UK based supporters. Those based internationally can stream the game through a live video match pass on Wanderers TV.
Click here to purchase your passes.
The game will also be available on Sky Sports+.