Mark Robins is desperate to put one over on Wigan tomorrow – but says his 33rd match as Town manager has no resemblance to his first.

The 43-year-old – who has teenage Dutch striker Geraldo Antonio, previously with PSV Eindhoven, on trial – kicked off his John Smith’s Stadium managerial reign with a 4-1 home loss to the Latics, then managed by Roberto Martinez, in the fifth round of last season’s FA Cup.

Much has changed since then, with Wigan losing their fight to avoid dropping from the Premier League into the Championship and Town winning their battle to stay in it.

There have been changes to both squads, and Robins, eyeing a 13th victory in all matches as Town’s boss, said: “It’s a different game completely, but still a tough task.

“Wigan are in a different division, with a different manager and a number of different players, but Owen Coyle still has a strong squad.”

Eight of the 28 on duty for Wigan in the cup-tie are no longer at the DW Stadium, where Town make their first trip since December 2002.

For Town, the figure is five, illustrating the changes taking place under Robins, who added: “Owen can call on some good players, but we have to work out how we can counter them.

“We managed to do that against Leeds last week, when we produced a really big performance to get the three points, and we shouldn’t be lacking confidence.”

Town, four places and one point above Wigan in ninth, are again without 11-goal top scorer James Vaughan, who remains suspended for the next two games.

And Robins is remaining tight-lipped on whether Martin Paterson, Adam Clayton and Anthony Gerrard, all left out of the 3-2 home win over Leeds, will come into contention.

Coyle, juggling his bid to get Wigan straight back into the top flight with a Europa League campaign, could give a full debut to Marc Albrighton.

The on-loan Aston Villa midfielder, who will provide cover for injured Scotland international Shaun Maloney, came off the bench in Wednesday’s goalless home draw with QPR.

Wigan are unbeaten in eight games in all competitions on home turf, and had averaged two goals a game in the league at the DW before the QPR clash.

They haven’t won in four in all competitions, but Coyle insists: “We’ve got to keep banging on the door and soon those goals will go flying in.

“We’re still unbeaten at home but we certainly feel we should have got the three points against QPR. We need to follow the courage of our convictions more.”

Town are set to wear their yellow change kit for a game refereed by Tony Harrington, of Cleveland.