Seeking to formally seal promotion and win the League One title with victory on Tuesday night, Wigan Athletic take on Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

As one more point from their final two games will secure a return to the second tier after two years away, the Latics are in determined mood before facing a mid-table Pompey side with only pride left to play for.

Match preview

Still struggling to stumble over the line and complete their promotion mission, Wigan's winless streak extended to a fourth game at the weekend, following a 1-1 draw with playoff contenders Plymouth.

Though Jack Whatmough's second-half equaliser was enough to deprive the Pilgrims of victory, Leam Richardson's side are on a run of just two points from the last possible 12 and are yet to rubber stamp their elevation back to the Championship.

Nonetheless, that solitary point keeps the Latics top of the League One table; three ahead of both Rotherham and MK Dons.

With one game left to play, the third-placed Dons can only draw level if they win on the final day, but with an advantage of seven on goal difference, Wigan are all but assured of achieving their aim - even if they fail to beat Portsmouth.

The Lancashire outfit will surely want to end a successful campaign with a flourish, though, and as a win and draw from their remaining matches would guarantee the title, they will not lack motivation on Tuesday.

Beaten 1-0 by Wigan in the reverse fixture, back at the start of a long and ultimately fruitless campaign, Portsmouth have failed to mount a promotion challenge of their own and even improved form since the turn of the year has failed to lift them into contention.

Danny Cowley's men were 3-1 winners over a lowly Gillingham on Saturday, as they posted a third win from four games to sit ninth in the table.

Republic of Ireland forward Ronan Curtis netted his 50th Pompey goal, with his two strikes coming at either end of the first half at Fratton Park, before Clark Robertson scored a third shortly after the interval.

Despite a dominant display, the South Coast side's campaign has effectively been over for several weeks, yet a recent run of 10 points from 12 available - including three wins on home soil - demonstrates the squad are still keen to impress Cowley before a probable summer clearout.

Just two points short of matching last season's final tally, which saw them finish eighth, Pompey must win both of their remaining fixtures to have any chance of leapfrogging Oxford United and matching that position when the campaign concludes next weekend.

Team News

As they pursue the point needed for promotion, Wigan could again be without the experience of winger James McClean and centre-back Curtis Tilt for the trip down south, due to injury.

Long-term absentee Charlie Wyke is also sidelined, but Northern Ireland striker Josh Magennis overcame a knock to feature on the bench at the weekend and could be involved at some stage.

Leam Richardson is likely to retain his top scorers Will Keane and Callum Lang up front, though, as despite drawing a blank on Saturday they have plundered 40 goals between them this term.

Meanwhile, injured trio Kieron Freeman (ankle), Jayden Reid and Reeco Hackett (both knee) are set to be unavailable for Portsmouth on Tuesday; Connor Ogilvie was forced off against Gillingham but should be fit to start at left-back.

After being awarded Pompey's Player of the Season prize, Sean Raggett will once again lead the hosts' back four, in front of on-loan Manchester City goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, who finished second in that poll.

Another Irish international, Ronan Curtis, is expected to continue on the left wing in a 4-2-3-1 formation, following Saturday's brace, which took him to a half-century of goals from 188 appearances for the club.

Portsmouth possible starting lineup:
Bazunu; Carter, Raggett, Robertson, Ogilvie; Morrell, Thompson; Harness, Jacobs, Curtis; Hirst

Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:
Amos; Kerr, Whatmough, Bennett; Darikwa, Naylor, Cousins, Pearce; Power; Lang, Keane

We say: Portsmouth 1-1 Wigan Athletic

Pompey's Fratton Park form has been strong in recent weeks, so Wigan will have a fight on their hands to pick up that promotion-winning point.

The champions-elect rarely fail to score, though, and will surely have enough firepower to secure both a draw and Championship football for next season.

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