Stoke v Wigan

TEAM NEWS

Stoke boss Tony Pulis is optimistic that wingers Matthew Etherington and Jermaine Pennant will return from hamstring and ankle injuries respectively to take on relegation-threatened Wigan.

But Robert Huth will almost certainly miss out with knee ligament trouble.

Wigan have a clean bill of health for their decisive trip to the Britannia.

Midfielder Mohamed Diame had been a slight doubt with a minor knock but the Senegal international has reported fit.

Stoke

Doubtful: Etherington (hamstring), Huth (knee), Pennant (ankle)

Injured: Fuller & Sidibe (both Achilles), Higginbotham (knee)

Wigan

Injured: None

PREVIEW BY MOTD COMMENTATOR STEVE WILSON

If their timing is anything to go by, Wigan might beat the drop this weekend. They have just enjoyed their most productive month of the season, taking eight points to somehow go into the final-day drama at Stoke with their heads still above water.

So can Wigan, who have been out of the bottom three for only three weeks in 2011, time their surge to perfection and leapfrog out of the drop zone?

Much may depend on man-of-the-moment Charles N’Zogbia. Having scored five goals in 32 games for Wigan up to the middle of April, he’s since hit five more at the rate of one a game to double his tally for the season. The latest, against West Ham, came in the 94th minute – now that’s timing! His goals have earned crucial points not only against the Hammers, but also against Blackpool, Everton and Aston Villa.

Back in August I commentated on Wigan’s first game of the season, against Blackpool at the DW Stadium.

Birmingham and Newcastle had been trying to sign N’Zogbia before the close of the August transfer window; Wigan would not budge, and the Frenchman was not happy. He was left out of the side and told to get his attitude right. Like his shooting, his attitude is spot on now, that’s for sure.

The highest praise I can heap on Stoke and Tony Pulis is that they seem like a part of the top-flight furniture, rather than a club in only their third Premier League season. A top-half finish would be their highest for 36 years. That and the Cup final would make this a historic season by anyone’s measure.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Four of the five Premier League meetings between the sides have ended in draws. Stoke won the other match 2-0.
• Wigan twice came from behind to earn a point in December’s reverse fixture.

Stoke

• Tony Pulis’s side have not lost a league match in which they opened the scoring (W10, D4).
• If they secure a top-10 finish, it will be their highest league position since coming fifth in the old First Division in 1974/75.
• They have lost both of their previous Premier League matches on the final day – 4-1 at Arsenal (2009) and 4-0 at Manchester United (2010).

Wigan

• Roberto Martinez’s side have lost only two of their previous eight (W3, D3, L2).
• Only Birmingham (36) have a worse goalscoring record than Wigan (39) in this season’s Premier League.
• The Latics have only kept one Premier League clean sheet since the turn of the year (a 0-0 draw with Tottenham on 2 April).
• According to Opta Stats, Wigan have scored more goals from direct free kicks (five) than any other team in the Premier League.
• Charles N’Zogbia has scored five goals in his last five appearances.

LEADING GOALSCORERS

Stoke

Jones: 12 goals (9 league); Walters: 12 goals (6 league)

Wigan

N’Zogbia: 10 goals (9 league); Rodallega: 8 goals (8 league)

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Andre Marriner

Assistant referees: Andy Garratt & Scott Ledger

Fourth official: Lee Mason

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

Stoke (L0-3 v Man City, a): Sorensen, Wilkinson, Shawcross, Collins, Wilson, Whitehead, Whelan (Shotton 74), Diao, Pugh, Carew (Delap 72), Walters. Subs not used: Nash, Soares, Jones, Tonge, Faye.

Wigan (W3-2 v West Ham, h): Al Habsi, Boyce, Gary Caldwell, Alcaraz, Figueroa, Diame, McCarthy (Moses 46), Watson, N’Zogbia, Rodallega (McArthur 90), Cleverley (Sammon 46). Subs not used: Kirkland, Gohouri, Di Santo, Gomez.