WIGAN boss Paul Jewell is warning his players to expect a physical battle at Stoke tomorrow where he has to make one change.

Left back Leighton Baines is suspended and, if Steve McMillan fails to recover from a thigh injury, Northern Ireland international Peter Kennedy could get a rare start.

Jimmy Bullard, who has been nursing an infected heel, is expected to be fit.

Said Jewell "It's going to be a game where we need to compete and make sure we don't get bullied out of it. Stoke are big, strong and very physical.

"We have to win that physical battle and once we've done that hopefully we can get the ball down and play,"

Wigan are just four points behind second-placed West Brom who face a tough game at Sheffield United and Jewell added: "At the start of the season I would have settled for the points we have already got. But we don't intend to sit back on our laurels."

LAST SEASON: Different divisions

KEY OPPONENT: Carl Asaba, City's leading scorer.

PREDICTION: Stoke 2 Wigan 2. Tweet