Wigan Athletic v Burnley - Pete Oliver's big match verdict

WIGAN defender Pat McGibbon is taking nothing for granted as the Latics bid to step up their promotion campaign against Burnley at Springfield Park tomorrow.

The current fortunes of the two clubs could hardly be more contrasting but McGibbon is still expecting a tough ride against a Clarets side fighting for their lives.

"It's going to be a strange game because Burnley lost 5-0 last Saturday and I'm sure they are not going to take it lying down.

"It's up to ourselves to go out with the right attitude and and try and get the three points," said the Northern Ireland international.

"I think Stan Ternent is going through a little rough stage at the minute but they are not a bad side.

"Earlier in the season against us they showed they are a decent side and you don't expect anything else from Stan Ternent's sides.

McGibbon is also aware that record signing Steve Davis is back on duty for Burnley as Ternent's men bid to open up a gap above the relegation zone and put the brakes on Wigan's move towards the play-offs.

"Steve Davis is a quality player and I find it very strange that he is not playing at an even higher standard because every time I have seen him he has been outstanding," McGibbon admitted. "But we have some outstanding players in our team as well. Andy Liddell is in great form and Stuart Barlow as well so it will be an interesting game, those two against the likes of Steve Davis."

McGibbon will be part of a slightly re-shuffled defence which will be looking to provide the platform for Wigan's eighth win in nine games.

Stuart Balmer's one-match ban is carried over after the Latics' mid-week Auto Windscreens Shield northern area semi-final at Rochdale was postponed.

Former Port Vale defender Gareth Griffiths will therefore return to the starting line-up for the first-time since November.

But the rest of Ray Mathias's side is likely to be unchanged from the one that won at Macclesfield last Saturday to keep them just three points out of the play-off zone in eighth place.

"We are up there with the pack and it's just a matter of trying to get the right result on Saturday," McGibbon added.

"We are in a decent position at the minute. All the teams in the top half of the table seem to be winning at the minute and it's up to us to get three points on Saturday to keep up there with those.

"When you look back in November time we were about 17th or 18th in the League so we have moved up 10 positions since then.

"It's been a long haul but we seem to be coming into form at the right time. We have still got 15-odd games to go and it's important for us to keep picking up points."

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