Wigan Athletic and Bolton Wanderers meet this weekend in a titanic battle at the bottom of the Championship.

The two teams sit either side of Rotherham United in the table with the Latics seven points better off.

Phil Parkinson’s side need a win to keep the hope of surviving in the second tier alive, knowing a defeat could all but seal relegation to League One.

Wigan head into the game having lost their last three games, failing to win in any of their previous seven – winning just once in their last ten.

Wanderers, meanwhile, failed to build on their morale-boosting win over Millwall last weekend, suffering defeat at the hands of Sheffield Wednesday in midweek.

Bolton have lost seven of their last ten, winning just twice – but have picked up the same amount of points as their opponents tomorrow over the same period.

Ahead of the game, early team news emerged from both camps.

Wigan could have Nathan Byrne available having missed out in midweek through illness, giving Paul Cook added options as they look to see off the Trotters at the DW Stadium.

Lee Evans could miss out with the return of the defender, with Reece James reverting to right-back for the meeting between the two strugglers.

Danny Fox and Anthony Pilkington are both still out and will be until after the international break, with the pair continuing to overcome their respective knee injuries.

To the visitors, and Parkinson only has Yanic Wildschut as a definite absentee for the game against the Latics.

David Wheater could return to the starting line-up having missed out on Wednesday night in favour of Jack Hobbs.

Craig Noone and Jason Lowe also returned to the side and could well keep their places ahead of the short trip to the DW tomorrow.

The verdict

It looks as if Wigan have more injury worries than their opponents but being at home where they have been stronger in recent weeks could have a huge bearing on the result.

Both sides are struggling with Bolton the worse off out of the two teams.

It will not be a game for the faint-hearted, and it certainly will not be the most aesthetically pleasing game of football there is to be this weekend.

But the winner could take a massive stride in surviving in the Championship this season