Steve Bruce will be returning to the DW Stadium this weekend for the first time since leaving Wigan in the summer with a point to prove.
Fresh from beating Arsenal, Sunderland will be up against a Wigan side who will be pleased to be back on home turf after a miserable trip to White Hart Lane last time out. The Latics were thrashed 9-1 prompting the players to reimburse supporters who travelled to the match.
Roberto Martinez' team are unbeaten in their last four home league matches, a run that includes victories over West Ham and Chelsea plus draws with Man City and Fulham.
Sunderland have lost in four of their last five away trips, with the only point in this run coming at Old Trafford after being cruelly denied all three points. And despite an immense performance against Spurs on their last away day, they were unable to get the better of Harry Redknapp's side.
The Latics have the worst defensive record in the Barclays Premier League, having conceded 31 goals so far this campaign.
Sunderland will be boosted by Darren Bent's scan results, following picking up an injury last weekend, Steve Bruce was concerned about the Black Cats' top scorer, however, scans have revealed that there is no damage to Bent's hamstring and the striker has been hard at work in the gym to increase his chances of being available for Saturday's game.
Long-term injury victims Lee Cattermole and Craig Godon remain on the sidelines.
Michael Turner will be back in the frame for the game at the DW Stadium, having served a one-match ban following his fifth yellow card of the season against Tottenham earlier this month.
Turner's availability could cause Bruce to re-shuffle his pack after John Mensah and Paulo Da Silva were called into the squad following Turner's absence and turned in fine performances.
Kenwyne Jones won't feature in the game as he will be missing the third and final game of his three match ban following his dismissal against West Ham at the Stadium of Light last month.
Kieran Richardson and Phil Bardsley are on a disciplinary tightrope as they go into the game on four yellow cards a piece, Wigan's Hendry Thomas will also miss a game when next picks up a yellow card.
Wigan have named an unchanged side in their last two league games since defender Erik Edman made his way back into the squad against Fulham earlier this month, after not featuring since the League Cup defeat at the hands of Blackpool in August.
Trinidadian striker Jason Scotland is yet to open his account with the Latics since his move to Wigan in the summer. Whilst Hugo Rodallega, who moved to the DW Stadium in January after Steve Bruce signed him, is Athletic's top scorer netting five so far in this campaign.
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