Latics ready to rock

BRIAN WILSON . . . Achilles problem

ATHLETIC are second-favourites again tomorrow against Fleetwood, but boss John Sheridan says he won't need to use any special words of wisdom to get his men fired up to defy the odds.

Three points against a side unbeaten away from home since November is Athletic's aim as they return to SportsDirect.com Park, a venue which has brought only one loss in nine outings under Sheridan.

That sequence includes matches against promotion contenders Millwall and Sheffield United.

Boosted by the return of striker Aaron Amadi-Holloway and versatile defender Brian Wilson, Sheridan knows that while some may not fancy his side's chances, Fleetwood manager Uwe Rosler won't take anything lightly.

"I like these games, where people think we are not going to get anything," said Sheridan, whose side are three places and two points clear of a Shrewsbury side in 21st place and who host Rochdale tomorrow.

"But I am sure Uwe knows he will have a really tough game.

'WATCHED'

"If he has watched us and he knows our form at home - and even if they watched us last week - they will be wary of us.

"I respect them and for where they are in the league, he's done a tremendous job.

"I have looked at Fleetwood and what they are good at and what the weaknesses are we can try to exploit.

"But I do tend to think about us more than the opposition.

"We are at home and I don't really have to drill it into the players. We all know the importance of winning the game - I don't think I have to say anything to them.

"I have to make sure I pick the right team in the right formation to get the right result."

RECALLED

Sheridan has recalled defender Jamie Stott from Curzon Ashton and says he will be careful to get Wilson - who could operate as a third centre-back - through the remaining games despite a nagging Achilles problem.

"They have a very good chance of playing," said Sheridan of Amadi-Holloway (hamstring) and Wilson. "I need to make sure everyone I put out can give 100-per-cent and be ready for the battle that will come."

Cameron Dummigan (hamstring) trained for three days this week, but has suffered a second setback after originally being set to feature against Sheffield United.

Keeping his sessions short and sharp, Sheridan stressed that last week's Southend loss was now forgotten about.

"I don't want to dwell on it. We played really well against a strong team who were in form," he said.

"I have to focus on the next game. I always felt it would probably go towards the end of the season and that's the way it looks as though it's going to be."

Athletic (probable, 3-5-2): Ripley; Wilson, Clarke, Gerrard; McLaughlin, Green, Fane, Banks, Taylor; Amadi-Holloway, Obadeyi.

Subs (from): Kettings, Law, Reckord, Stott, Mantack, Edmundson, O'Neill, Croft, Flynn, Erwin, Ngoo, Osei.

ATHLETIC'S assistant manager Ian Baraclough runs in the Brighton Marathon tomorrow.

He has so far raised over £3,200 for Cancer Research UK and Emmaus Mossley. Go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ian-baraclough to donate.

TOMORROW'S fixtures in Sky Bet League One -

AFC Wimbledon v Bristol Rovers; Bury v Bradford City; Charlton v Southend; Chesterfield v Port Vale; Coventry v Peterborough; Gillingham v Millwall; Northampton v Sheffield Utd; ATHLETIC v Fleetwood; Scunthorpe v Bolton; Shrewsbury v Rochdale; Swindon v MK Dons; Walsall v Oxford Utd.