Manchester United will again rely on their talisman Robin Van Persie to guide them to another three points against a Wigan side that upset them in the corresponding fixture last year in their English Premier League game.
United sit pretty on 49 points from 20 matches, seven clear of their nearest rivals Manchester City. That situation has been largely down to their summer signing Van Persie, with the Dutchman again expected to fire on all cylinders at Wigan, who are 16th on 18 points.
United veteran Ryan Giggs has called on his team to stay focused ahead of the New Year's day fixture.
"I think it's the manager's experience and the players who have been here a long time knowing that after Christmas is the time to get down to business," he told the club's official website. "We know that as long as we're there or thereabouts in January and if we go on a (winning) run of 10 or 12 games we're going to have a great chance of winning something.
"We know it's a key time and we've got to start performing and there can be no mistakes. Usually when the stakes are high and the concentration is there, good players produce the goods.
"We were probably this many points ahead with less games to go last season so we're only halfway there and there are a lot of tough games to come. There is also the FA Cup and the Champions League to come as well so we have all these things to consider. We're in a great position and we're happy where we are but we know we have to carry on producing."
Giggs does not want to see a repeat of last year's 1-0 loss, and expects Wigan to again give them a good fight at the DW Stadium. "Last season when we went there we didn't play well and Wigan were in good form and we lost 1-0," he added. "We knew they were in a false position going into that game and that they were playing well.
"When you don't turn up and you play a team in good form you're always going to come unstuck no matter who you play in the Premier League. It was tough especially when you consider our (good) record there and it undoubtedly contributed to us losing the title."
Rafael and Phil Jones are expected to return from injury, while Michael Carrick will likely be rested.
Wigan defender Antolin Alcaraz might make his comeback in the FA Cup game next weekend, while Ben Watson, Albert Crusat, Ryo Miyaichi and Adrian Lopez remain sidelined.
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Expected lineups: Wigan: Al Habsi; Ramis, Caldwell, Figueroa; Boyce, McCarthy, Jones, Maloney, Beausejour; Di Santo, Kone.
Manchester United: De Gea; Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Fletcher, Cleverley; Valencia, Kagawa, Young; Van Persie.
Prediction: 2-1 to United
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