Wigan preview

For me, this one has banana skin written all over it.

As much as anything, our away form has been far from hot so far this season (although we have had some difficult trips), but we go into tomorrow's game without the talisman Elano, and coming up against a side who are playing under a new manager for the first time - and not to mention at a ground where we have hardly covered ourselves in glory.

It will be a big test without Elano. Clearly, he has added something special to the team this year and has been flying once he fully settled into the side and pace of the Premiership. There are a couple of options available to Sven, but hopefully he will opt for Stephen Ireland (who he has been praising all week) in the 'hole' with Giovanni coming in on the right.

Last years visit to the JJB was probably our most inept performance of the season, and at the time really cranked up the pressure on Stuart Pearce - arguably something which he never got rid of all season.

Times change though and Sven will undoubtedly have the side well prepared and drilled for this game, although it may be a little difficult to be fully ready for this game bearing in mind it is their first game under the stewardship of Steve Bruce so scouting missions may be slightly skewed.

A win will of course put us second (albeit it perhaps for 48 hours), and keep up the pressure on the sides below us (both those from the 'big four' and teams like Villa, Portsmouth and Blackburn). A win is perhaps something I don't feel we will quite achieve.

For me, a 1-1 draw would represent a good return from tomorrow.