Wigan Athletic could move into the top half of League One with a win against Crewe Alexandra at the DW Stadium.
Meanwhile, Crewe are seeking their first victory of the season as they look to pull away from the relegation zone.
Wigan Athletic
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Wigan were tipped by some as contenders for automatic promotion back to the Championship at the first time of asking, but the club's form has hardly backed up those claims.
Under Gary Caldwell's stewardship, the Latics lost their opening game at Coventry City before losing at home to Bury in the League Cup, having led the tie in the latter stages.
Wigan did manage to keep a clean sheet against Doncaster Rovers and picked up their first victory of the season in emphatic style with a 3-0 win over Scunthorpe United.
However, their 2-0 defeat at table-topping Gillingham has left the 2013 FA Cup Winners in the bottom half of League One.
The overhaul of their squad appears to be continuing right up to transfer deadline day, with Billy McKay being linked with a move back to the Scottish Premiership, having only moved to the North-West outfit in January.
Wigan have at least extended Francisco Junior's stay at the club, while Tottenham Hotspur forward Shaquile Coulthirst has also joined the Latics on a short-term loan recently.
Recent form: LLLDWL
Recent form (all competitions): LLLDWL
Crewe Alexandra
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The Railwaymen managed to avoid relegation to League Two on the last day of 2014-15 season, but their start to this season suggests that they could be battling the drop again.
Alex began this campaign with a clean sheet and a point against Port Vale, but they then went on a run of three consecutive defeats, starting with a 3-1 reverse in the League Cup against Preston North End.
Crewe's string of poor results was curtailed somewhat by a 3-3 draw at home to Bury last weekend, but Alex's defensive record, conceding 11 goals in four games, has concerned Steve Davis.
Davis described his team's defending against the Shakers as "horrific" and has moved to draft in Stephen Kingsley on loan from Swansea City.
The Cheshire side have also completed a deal for Liverpool youngster Harry Wilson, who will stay with the Railwaymen until the New Year.
Recent form: WLDLLD
Recent form (all competitions): LDLLLD
Team News
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Billy McKay, who was a late substitute against Gillingham, may have made his last appearance for the club, with a move to Dundee United reportedly close to completion.
His possible exit is likely to mean that Will Grigg continues up front for Wigan, while Everton loanee Francisco Junior could also keep is place in midfield, having featured regularly so far this term.
Meanwhile, Davis's unhappiness with Crewe's defence could see new signing Kingsley drafted in at left-back.
The Railwaymen may also look to include Liverpool loanee Wilson, the youngest player ever to be capped by Wales, against the Latics.
Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:
O'Donnell, Daniels, Morgan, McCann, McNaughton, Junior, Jacobs, Perkins, James, Davies, Grigg
Crewe Alexandra possible starting lineup:
Garratt, Turton, Ray, Nugent, Kingsley, Fox, King, Bingham, Wilson, Colclough, Inman
Head To Head
Crewe have not played Wigan since before the Latics were promoted to the Premier League in 2005, but they have a reasonable recent record on their trips to Lancashire.
Of their last six visits, Alex have won two and drawn one, including a 3-2 victory at the DW Stadium courtesy of Dean Ashton's hat-trick in March 2004.
The last league meeting between the sides was at Gresty Road in February 2005 when Jason Roberts scored twice in Wigan's 3-1 win, on their way to reaching the top flight that season.
We say: Wigan 3-1 Crewe
Wigan's form has been indifferent since the start of the season, but a lack of victories from Crewe and a leaky defence will give Caldwell's side hope that they can give themselves a morale-boosting three points in their quest for promotion.
Chris O'Keefe
