These two clubs are separated by small margins. There are only two points between them in the Premier League's relegation zone, and pessimism prevails along the seven-mile Lancashire corridor that connects them. Given their comparative stretches of form – Wigan have experienced four straight defeats while a seventh consecutive loss for bottom-placed Bolton would be their worst sequence in the top flight since 1903 – this is more likely to be a thud-and-blunder derby settled by a single goal than the expansive encounter venerated by managers Roberto Martínez and Owen Coyle. Richard Gibson
Venue DW Stadium, Saturday 3pm
Tickets £20-22 (0871 66 33 552)
Last season Wigan 1 Bolton 1
Referee Mike Dean
This season's matches 5 Y13, R1, 2.80 cards per game
Odds Wigan 11-8 Bolton 9-4 Draw 12-5
Wigan
Subs from Pollitt, Maloney, Stam, Jones, López, Sammon, Thomas, McManaman, McArthur, Nicholls, Dicko, Crusat, Gohouri
Doubtful Gohouri (calf), McCarthy (illness)
Injured Alcaraz (thigh, 22 Oct), Rodallega (knee, Nov)
Suspended None
Form guide LLLLWD
Disciplinary record Y12 R1
Leading scorer Di Santo 3
Bolton
Subs from Bogdan, Lainton, Steinsson, Muamba, Knight, Blake, M Davies, Tuncay, Eagles, Ngog, Eaves, Obadeyi, Kakuta
Doubtful Jaaskelainen (thigh)
Injured Alonso (foot, 22 Oct), Holden (knee, Mar), Mears (broken leg, Mar), Lee (broken leg, May), Davis (knee, unknown), Ricketts (calf, unknown)
Suspended None
Form guide LLLLLL
Disciplinary record Y13 R2
Leading scorer Klasnic 3
Match pointers
• Five of the last six meetings between these sides in all competitions have been drawn
• Bolton have let in more goals after the first seven games of a season than any other side in Premier League history
• Wigan have lost their last four games, their worst run since October 2008, while Bolton have lost six in a row – matching their poorest-ever Premier League sequence
• Bolton have not drawn 0-0 for 44 matches – the longest current run in the division
• If selected, James McCarthy will be making his 50th league appearance for Wigan
