The Owls and Latics will look to get this match played at the second time of asking after the original clash was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at Hillsborough.
The Lancastrians will arrive back in South Yorkshire with a score to settle after leading 1-0 when the game was brought to a premature end by the officials at half-time in December.
This time they’ll face a much-improved Wednesday side who go into the game on the back of an eleven-match unbeaten run, and the Latics will be out to bounce back from defeat at Huddersfield Town at the weekend.
Vital Quotes:
Owls boss Stuart Gray told the Sheffield Star.
“Hopefully our run will continue. This game`s a bit of a bonus for us, because we could have been three or four nil down. Obviously the weather helped us.
“I fancy us to beat anybody at the moment, because we ‘re going into games with so much confidence.
“I think it`s a different Sheffield Wednesday team playing Wigan, compared to the previous game.’
Wednesday Team News:
Wednesday boss Stuart Gray could opt for the same starting eleven that beat Reading 2-0 at the weekend.
That is unless Glenn Loovens recovers fully from injury or loanee Adedaji Oshilaja receives international clearance to make his debut following his move from Cardiff City. Midfielder Jose Semedo plugged the gap in defence at the Madjeski Stadium and he would be the likely man to give way if Loovens or Oshilaja are available.
Wednesday will still be without Giles Coke and Jermaine Johnson as they sit out through suspension, while defenders Oguchi Onyewu, Lewis Buxton, Anthony Gardner, Kamil Zayatte and Reda Johnson remain injury absentees.
Benik Afobe will be out to score his first goal at Hillsborough after getting his Owls account up and running at the weekend.
Player to watch: Chris Maguire
The Scot has flourished since given a more prominent role in the Owls’ squad. Ignored under Dave Jones, Maguire has produced some impressive performances under Stuart Gray and chipped in with some vital goals, his last a last-minute winner against Barnsley last time out in S6.
Wigan Athletic Team News:
Wigan boss Uwe Rosler will give striker Nick Powell, on-loan from Manchester United, a late fitness test. The striker is Wigan’s biggest concern but loanee Martyn Waghorn could continue in his absence.
Wigan suffered a 1-0 defeat at Huddersfield Town at the weekend and Rosler could look to make changes as the Latics aim to bounce back.
Club captain Gary Caldwell remains sidelined with an achilles injury, as does Shaun Maloney.
Player to watch: Martyn Waghorn
Brought in from Leicester City on loan, the striker will look to grab the goals should Nick Powell fail to be ready for the clash.
Match Facts & Stats
Form:
Wednesday: W-W-D-W-D
Wigan: L-W-D-W-L
Head-to-Head:
This will be the first time the sides have met in league competition, with the only other meetings coming in the FA Cup. Wigan won the last time 1-0 at home in 1978 and the Owls came out on top the time before, winning 2-0 at Hillsborough in 1976.
Next Fixtures:
v Charlton (H, FA Cup) – 15/2/14
