TABLE-TOPPING Preston face one of the challenges of the season tonight when they visit the sold-out JJB Sports Stadium to take on automatic promotion rivals Wigan Athletic.

Preston are four points clear of second club Wigan, but the Latics have a game in hand and, after an indifferent spell, are finding their form again.

Preston manager David Moyes is hoping his side step up a gear after he said "sorry" to the fans for their display in the goalless encounter at struggling Blackpool on Saturday.

"I can only apologise to the fans (for the Blackpool match). Hopefully this will be a better game for the supporters.

"Wigan are a good side and have only lost a few games all season. We are all looking forward to it," he said.

Moyes will once again have to decide who to play up front. Loan striker Brett Angell, after a sharp-shooting start to his Deepdale career, has not scored for four games and Jon Macken is in the same position. Striker Steve Basham has been struggling with a dead leg and was an unused substitute for the match at Bloomfield Road.

But Northern Ireland defender Colin Murdock is expected to be back in the squad after missing Saturday's game.

A win for Preston could put them in a commanding position -- seven points clear at the top -- with games against other promotion rivals Bristol Rovers and Millwall to come.

Kick off at the JJB Sports Stadium is at 7.45pm.

Squad: Moilanen, Alexander, Edwards, Kidd, Jackson, Murdock, Gregan, Rankine, Cartwright, Angell, Macken, Anderson, Lucas, McKenna, Eyres, Gunnlaugsson, Basham.

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