Relegation rivals Huddersfield Town and Wigan Athletic meet at the John Smith's Stadium on Saturday in a huge clash at the bottom end of the Championship.

Wigan are two points and two places above the dropzone after hitting form before the three-month hiatus, while Town are a point better off in 18th.

Match preview

Many had written off Wigan's survival hopes after spending 17 successive matchdays in the bottom three.

However, the Latics strung together a six-match unbeaten run in February and March - including three victories on the bounce - to drag themselves out of the dropzone.

That is an incredible turnaround from Wigan's perspective, with boss Paul Cook deserving of huge praise for reviving his side's survival hopes.

Indeed, Athletic will now be now looking up the table with nine games to go, and they have the chance to put some more ground between themselves and the bottom three this weekend.

Huddersfield are only one point better off after a mixed set of results in the final month before the prolonged hiatus.

The Terriers lost to Cardiff City, Swansea City and Leeds United, but they also earned an away draw at Derby County and beat both Bristol City and Charlton Athletic.

Danny Cowley was set the target of keeping Town in the second tier when taking over in September, and he is ultimately on course to achieving that mission.

Huddersfield's home form could well be the key to their survival, having won back-to-back matches at the John Smith's Stadium, including each of their last two games.

Not since February 2017 have they won consecutive home league games, though they have every chance of achieving that against a Wigan side with the eighth-worst away return in the division.

However, the home side has failed to win any of the last five league meetings with Wigan in a run stretching back to February 2014.

Athletic won 2-1 here on their most recent trip in November 2016, but that is their only away victory in this fixture in 13 visits in the Football League.

Huddersfield Town's Championship form: LDLWWL

Wigan Athletic's Championship form: DDWWWD

Team News

Centre-back Tommy Elphick remains absent for Huddersfield after damaging his medial ligaments last November.

That is Cowley's only confirmed injury absentee, though, with both teams using the three-month break to nurse players back to full fitness.

Karlan Grant is almost certain to start in attack after contributing to 20 goals in the Championship this season - 16 goals of his own and four assists.

Wigan have a long-term absentee of their own as Cheyenne Dunkley broke his leg in a February's league clash with Reading.

Antonee Robinson, whose move to AC Milan broke down in January, is closing in on a return to fitness but will not feature this weekend.

Cook is likely to start with Wales international Kieffer Moore up top, with Jamal Lowe - three goals and one assist in the league this term - providing support from the right.

Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup:
Grabara; Simpson, Schindler, Stearman, Toffolo; Chalobah, O'Brien; Rowe, Bacuna, Grant; Mounie

Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:
Marshall; Byrne, Balogun, Naismith, Pearce; Morsy, Evans; Lowe, Williams, Massey; Moore

We say: Huddersfield Town 1-1 Wigan Athletic

Both Huddersfield and Wigan could possibly end the day in the relegation zone should results go against them. There is plenty riding on Saturday's clash, then, and it may well be a case of the relegation-threatened clubs cancelling each other out on their return to action.