Wigan Athletic v Burnley - Pete Oliver's preview

WIGAN boss John Benson expects former club Burnley to test his side's unbeaten record to the limit at the JJB Stadium tomorrow.

Benson, who had an ill-fated year in charge of a rapidly-sinking Burnley in the mid-1980s, has made a remarkable start to his managerial reign at Wigan.

Having replaced Ray Matthias in the summer, despite the Latics' top-six finish last season, Benson has taken the club on an 18-match unbeaten run - five short of the club record.

The Second Division leaders, who will be featured on Granstand's Football Focus tomorrow, have won eight of their nine home games in sweeping all before them in their new stadium.

However, Benson knows his men face a difficult test against the Clarets, who have lost just twice away from home and conceded only five goals in nine away games.

"I am looking forward to a very hard game. They are up there with Preston and ourselves.

"They are very mean and don't give too many goals away," confirmed Benson.

"What Stan and Sam have done is they have gone into the club last season and weighed up the stock. They have been very patient, they know what players they wanted and they have wheeled and dealed in the transfer market.

"They are well organised and solid and they also have a lot of flair, experience and young players. It seems to me they have got everything right.

"They are a big club, let's not kid ourselves. If they are there or thereabouts at the end of the season, which I'm sure they will be, they will have no problem getting 12-15,000 people there."

That's one element that must attract envious glances from the powers-that-be at the JJB Stadium, where average gates this season have been 6,000. Tomorrow's five-figure attendance, of which almost half will be Burnley fans, may well be a new record for the ground.

And while Benson believes the crowds will come if Wigan can sustain their success and make it into Division One, he is relishing a big occasion.

"We might get 10,000 which is nice. It will be the biggest league crowd of the season. It will be good atmosphere, a local derby with two Lancashire clubs and that's what the troops want," he added.

Wigan's spending power isn't affected by the size of the gates, however. Chairman David Whelan has funded the Latics' revolution and this week Wigan made a £300,000 bid for Portsmouth's Republic of Ireland international Alan McLoughlin.

He turned down the move but team-mate Jeff Peron looks set to sign. However, a hamstring strain will rule him out of a debut against Burnley.

The table-toppers have strength and quality running through their side, although it may be battling qualities that come out on top tomorrow.

"It will be very competitive and there is a lot at stake for both clubs," Benson admitted.

"But Burnley play football like ourselves. From that point of view I think both sides will knock the ball about."

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