Auto Windscreens Shield first round: Wigan Athletic v Burnley - Pete Oliver's preview

THE AUTO Windscreens Shield rarely sets the pulses racing at this stage of the season.

And the ludicrous scheduling of the first-round ties in FA Cup third-round week has rendered tonight's fixture list as something of a nuisance.

Burnley's trip to holders Wigan could be said to belong in that category, although those involved will be keen enough to get through once they get down to business.

"I don't know what the gaffer's going to do. But when the lads put a Burnley shirt on they have a go, whether it be a reserve game or whatever. So we haven't got a problem with that and I'm sure the gaffer hasn't," insisted Burnley striker Ronnie Jepson.

Jepson may be one of the Clarets' squad to benefit from the fixture, which could surely have been slotted in earlier in the season to give a potentially lucrative tournament a fairer crack of the whip, as manager Stan Ternent makes changes for the first time in six matches.

With Burnley going along nicely in the promotion pack, Ternent has stuck to a largely winning formula.

But with an FA Cup tie at Derby beckoning and important League games piling up around Christmas, it will be time to shuffle the pack.

Players will be rested, while others, like Jepson, will be given the chance to add some match sharpness and give Ternent a timely reminder that they're ready and waiting. Jepson proved again when coming off the bench in Saturday's 1-0 win over Wycombe Wanderers what a useful player he is to have about the place.

But he admitted he has no complaints about having only a bit-part to play so far, and said the same goes for his colleagues in-waiting.

"Everybody is patient. We've got a great team spirit now and we realise we've got good calibre of player at the club," said Jepson.

"If it had been this time last year you would have been moaning and knocking on the gaffer's door to get a place.

"But this year we've got a great squad and, if somebody is having a dip in form, someone will come in and have a go.

"Nobody's moaning and we're all mucking in together. In a half a half-decent squad that's what it's all about.

"Obviously the lads are disappointed when they're not in the team, or you wouldn't be a professional.

"But it's not the kind of disappointment where there are rows going on because the lads are all doing well.

"The nice thing is that the lads out of the team want those in it to do well. That's the sort of spirit we're getting at the club." Wigan lifted the Shield when they beat Millwall 1-0 at Wembley in April.

Since then manager Ray Matthias has been replaced by John Benson, goalscorer Paul Rogers has joined Brighton and man-of-the-match Colin Greenall has joined the Latics' coaching staff.

Benson has promised further changes tonight as the Second Division leaders, who entertain Wolves in the Cup on Saturday, also have different priorities.

However, they also have high-quality replacements to come in and, like Burnley, they may be glad of their strength-in-depth if they are still around to enjoy a trip down Wembley Way in the spring.

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