With two former Premier League clubs meeting at Bramall Lane this afternoon, things have changed significantly since the days when a late Wigan Athletic penalty confined Sheffield United to relegation from the top tier under former manager Neil Warnock. 

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Gary Caldwell's Wigan travel to Sheffield United today (3pm kick-off)

Things have altered remarkably since then.

Wigan have won an FA Cup, yet both teams find themselves in League One battling it out for the play-off spots.

Gary Caldwell's Latics will be looking to win at Bramall Lane after chucking away a 3-0 lead against the Blades a few weeks ago at the DW Stadium, when United scored three goals in the last 20 minutes to snatch a point.

The Blades on the other hand will be looking for a win in front of their home fans after what was a frustrating January transfer window for the club. They sit ninth in the table at minute, but a win can move them in to the top six today.

Wigan can move to within a point of the top two if they manage to walk away with the three points.

FootballLeagueWorld writer Lee Connor identifies three things to look out for in the crunch tie at Bramall Lane...

1) The atmosphere in the stands

It has been a terrible week for the Blades on some fronts, as tensions rose to boiling point online due to their failure to secure any signings during the transfer window.

Manager Nigel Adkins has defiantly defended his strategy and insists bids were made but unsuccessful when it came to the crunch.

Bramall Lane can be an intimidating place for away teams to come and play their football.

On the other hand, it can also provide inspiration to the away team, especially if they can nick a lead early on and get the home fans on their teams back.

Whatever way today goes, we will find out a lot about the feeling around the Lane at the moment.

2) Wigan's new boys

The Latics made seven signings during the transfer window, and were the envy of many a League One club with the quality of player brought in.

Signings like Sam Morsy and Conor McAleny from Everton represent a statement of intent from their chairman as to where his expectations and needs sit for his club this season.

If they can get a win today, then they will move right in to the mix of the things for the automatic promotion places, and there will be a real belief around the place that they can secure a return back to the Championship.

3) Billy Sharp

The in-form Blades striker has seven goals in his last eight league games, only failing to find the net during their last game and the 0-0 draw with Blackpool at Bloomfield Road.

If United are to get something from the game, they will be hoping Sharp can get among the goals and fire them to a crucial win.

Sharp can also play a crucial role in the feeling around the place today.

As a Blades fan himself, nobody will be hurting more than him with how the season has gone so far, and he will be determined to get his boyhood club back in the promotion picture.

Latics and Blades fans... what do you think? Predictions for today? Home win? Away master class? Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!