The 21-year-old returned to the starting line-up for the first time in 2002 against Blackpool last weekend and is now looking forward to a run on home soil.

He could have a big role to play, especially as Town are chasing a fourth successive home win against a team which manager Lou Macari rates as the great under-achievers of the Second Division season so far.

The onus will be on Leon Knight and Clyde Wijnhard to topple Paul Jewell's side, but Delroy Facey is sure of a huge reception if he makes his first McAlpine appearance of the season.

Macari has Gareth Evans available after suspension, Chris Holland in contention after injury and every senior player on standby for a match which is just £1 admission for juniors and the over 60s in any section of the ground.

"We are into March and starting the important countdown for this season, so we need the fans right behind us and the players firing on all cylinders," said Macari, who has decided against signing the Polish midfielder, Arkadiusz Bak, who has been on trial with Town for a week.

"You have to try and make every game count in terms of picking up something and tomorrow's match is no different.

"People will look at the table and assume we are going to win, but Wigan were tipped by just about every manager in the League to get promoted this time and they are a good side - good enough to beat Stoke by six and Cardiff by four.

"That shows we can't afford to be anything other than totally committed, strong in our concentration and ready to battle for everything - but the lads are going well and will be keen to perform again in front of our own fans.

"It's a tough match, but we are going into it on the back of a great win against an improving Blackpool side and we've got the incentive of making further progress - but we do need the fans to play their part as well and get right behind us from first kick to last."

Town Juniors are away to Leeds in the FA Academy League tomorrow (12.00).

Town - (from): 13 Margetson, 2 Jenkins, 20 Heary, 36 Clarke, 12 Gray, 3 Evans, 33 Mattis, 8 Irons, 30 Knight, 24 Schofield, 23 Holland, 11 Wijnhard, 35 P Senior, 21 Dyson, 26 Moses, 31 Macari, 18 Hay, 22 Beech, 17 Baldry.

Wigan - 1 Filan, 23 Jackson, 2 De Vos, 6 De Zeeuw, 8 Nolan, 31 Dalglish, 21 Dinning, 15 Mitchell, 20 Brannan, 5 McMillan, 17 Teale, 11 McCulloch, 14 Green, 32 Pendlebury, 34 Santus, 7 Liddell.

Referee - Colin Webster (Durham).