Charlton crunch 'like a training-ground game', insists Wigan Athletic skipper

Defeat for either side, and they’d be staring relegation from the Championship in the face.

Victory on the other hand, and another campaign in the second tier is virtually assured.

Depending on results elsewhere, a draw would be neither here nor there. After shipping a stoppage-time equaliser at Birmingham in midweek – two points which would have seen Charlton safe, according to manager Lee Bowyer – the hosts will have to pick themselves up off the ground.

Latics, on the other hand, will be on cloud nine after banging in eight goals against Hull on Tuesday night.

And skipper Sam Morsy says their ‘relaxed frame of mind’ heading in will be their secret weapon to hopefully another three points.

“We’ll go into the game in a very relaxed frame of mind, focusing on what we can do,” he said.

“As much as you can, you’ve got to try and forget about the stakes involved, and just play it like a training-ground game.

“The effort will be there, that goes without saying.

“But we need to play with as much confidence and composure as we can – the way we have been doing in recent weeks.”

With the game kicking-off at 12.30pm, Latics have a great chance to steal a march on their rivals in the relegation dogfight.

And Morsy admits it’s impossible to ignore what’s going on elsewhere as the season reaches a climax.

“It’s natural to look elsewhere at what other teams are doing,” he added.

“Obviously if we were to win, it would make it a very relaxing journey back.

“Some of the lads will be keeping tabs on the other games.

“But if you’ve won you’re not really bothered about what anyone else does.

“When it’s out of your hands, you probably do look at other results a bit more.

“But now it is in our own hands, we know that if we win our games, we will stay up.

“No-one can take that away from us, and it’s the position you want to be in.”