The Potters today make the short-ish trip North to face Wigan for the first time since February 2005, the scoreline that day, a 1-0 Stoke victory (Gifton Noel Williams with the only goal),a scoreline that would more than satisfy the close to 4,000 Stoke fans expected to make the trip. The fortunes of the two clubs have been contrasting since that day, Wigan going on to gain promotion to the Premier League that season, with a second place finish behind Sunderland, Joakim Noah Jersey before enjoying a hugely succe sful first season in the top flight, finishing tenth. The 2006/07 season was somewhat tougher for the Latics though, avoiding relegation on the final day of the season on goal difference by just one goal. Popular manager Paul Jewell then quit the club, to the surprise of many, his a sistant Chris Hutchings taking the reins for the start of the 2007/08 campaign. A poor start saw him sacked almost a year ago to the day, to be replaced by Birmingham bo s Steve Bruce, who guided the Latics to a Jay Scrubb Jersey comfortable fourteenth place finish. Stoke on the other hand, put in a lukewarmtwelth place finish in the Championship four years ago, beforea change of managers, Tony Pulis being replaced by Johan Boskampthat summer. A season of controversy came next, with feuds within the management and rumours that the Icelandic owners were on the way out. After a thirteenth place finish, and the club being sold back to former owner Peter Coates, Pulis was re-appointed. Unexpected succe s followed, with a eighth place finish he next season, and promotion as runners up coming this May. The Potters currently sit twelfth in the premier league with Wigan two points and five places behind in seventeenth. Despite all that has happened to the two clubs since the last meeting, Stoke go into todays match as equals, and on the back of some excellent form optimism that a result can be gained today is high. Both sides have no new injury worries Patrick Beverley Jersey ahead of the game at the JJB Stadium, Wigan captain Mario Melchiot expected to return after illne s and Stoke expected to name an unchanged side from last Saturdays victory over Arsenal with long-term outs Liam Lawrence and Andrew Davies the only players unavailable.Wigan squad:Name Age Position Wigan appearancesChris Kirlkland 27Goalkeeper 75Ryan Taylor 24 Defender 52Erik Edman29Defender 5Lee Cattermole 20 Midfielder11Wilson Palacios 24 Midfielder 29Paul Scharner28 Defender 86Kevin Kilbane 31 Midfield 76Emile Heskey 30 Forward78Jason Koumas29Midfield 43Michael Brown 31 Midfield39Mike Pollitt 36 Goalkeeper 39Amr Zaki 25 Forward 12Luis A. Valencia23Midfield 66Emerson Boyce Quentin Richardson Jersey 29 Defence73Daniel De Ridder 24 Midfield 8Titus Bramble 27 Defence 38Tomasz Cywka 20 Midfielder1Richard Kingson 30Goalkeeper 0Olivier Kapo28 Midfielder10Mario Melchiot32 Defender 43Henri Camara 31 Forward 64Tomasz Kupisz18Forward 1Mayror Figueroa25 Defence 14Star man:Amr ZakiThe burly 25 year old Egyptian forward joined Wigan on a year long loan deal from El Zamalek in his homeland in the summer and has since Reggie Jackson Jersey proveda revelation, scoring nine goals in twelve appearances, including a stunning overhead kick against Liverpool at Anfield. He has played 48 times for his homeland, scoring 29 goals. 2008/09 comparison stats: Wigan StokePlayed 1313Won 5 5Drawn2 2Lost 6 6Home record (W,D,L)2,1,34,1,2Away record (W,D,L) 3,1,3 1,4,1Goals scored 21 18Goals conceded 1723League position 17 12Disciplinary (Y,R)19,224,1