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Gohouri the only absentee for Latics Wigan manager Roberto Martinez has virtually a fully-fit squad to choose from for the Barclays Premier League visit of Stoke.

January signings Victor Moses and Marcelo Moreno made brief substitute appearances in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Sunderland but it may still be too early to hand either their first start.

Midfielder Steven Gohouri is the only absentee with a hamstring problem.

Martinez believes his side are better prepared to face Stoke having learned lessons from their previous encounter this season.

Back in December, the Latics twice led at the Britannia Stadium before being pegged back to a 2-2 draw as striker Hugo Rodallega missed an 89th-minute penalty.

Even though they could not hold onto a lead in Saturday's 1-1 draw against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, Martinez is confident his side have improved.

"All the games against Stoke are going to be competitive from the first minute until the last and we will have to have great concentration throughout the game," said the Spaniard, whose side have won only one of their last nine Barclays Premier League matches.

"In many aspects we have got stronger - partnerships and overall in dead-ball situations we are a lot stronger. I feel we have learned our lessons since then (the draw at Stoke). Even then we were only one kick away from the three points.

"Sometimes in football you get what you deserve over two legs so we hope the luck will be on our side. The talent is there, we have been a bit inconsistent but we have improved as a team." Martinez does not consider relegation to be an issue just yet but admits he may have to reassess if the situation has not changed by April.

"Every point is vital from now until the end of the season," he said. "We are not in the last third of the campaign yet, which is when everything starts to have a massive influence on the table.

"But we want to go into every game - especially the nine we have at home - with that must-win attitude. The table always comes alive in April and that is when you look into it and assess how we are doing.

"I am pleased with the way we are trying to win games and I'm happy with the progression. We are quite clear how we want to win games but we cannot look any further than this game, which is a cup final within a league campaign and we know that." Stoke captain Abdoulaye Faye could make his return to first-team action.

Faye, who has been suffering with a back problem, failed a late fitness test before the 3-0 victory over Blackburn on Saturday but could recover in time to play at the DW Stadium.

Andy Wilkinson received stitches to a head injury in the Blackburn game but is available for selection.

Currently just two places and two points above the drop zone, Martinez's side are fighting for their lives and boss Tony Pulis is expecting another tough encounter.

"It will be a tough game at Wigan. I respect every football club in this league and I certainly respect what they have got," said Pulis.

"We played them a few weeks ago here and the kid scored from the halfway line.

"They have got good quality right through the team and it will be a tough game." Pulis insists reaching 40 points remains Stoke's prime objective despite their promising start to the new year.

The Potters are unbeaten in 2010, with four wins and two draws in all competitions.

Saturday's 3-0 victory over Blackburn at the Britannia Stadium made it four league matches without defeat for Pulis' side and saw them leapfrog Rovers in the table and move up to 11th place.

Stoke have games in hand over the teams immediately above them which could see them banish any lingering prospect of a relegation battle in the next few weeks and start to consolidate a place in the top 10.

But Pulis has stressed that until the Potters have secured a total of 40 points - enough to virtually guarantee top flight survival - they will not be thinking of anything else.

"We have got to get to 40 points, I think everybody will be wanting to get that," said Pulis, whose team moved to within 11 points of that tally with Saturday's triumph.

"I think the sooner you get to 40 points then you can take stock, but 40 points is the target.

Wigan vs Stoke

Last modified 22:46 09/02/10

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Tenacious Turk Tuncay stuck at it for Stoke and saved a point in a fightback full of genuine character - and no little skill.

Tuncay led the line heroically but wasted the chances that came his way until he nodded home the equaliser that rewarded the persistence he and his mates had shown.

Roberto Martinez's Wigan had threatened to run away with the game but were left to count the cost of another couple of points thrown away as they stay in the survival struggle.

The only consolation for the Latics was that it could have been worse - with big Mama Sidibe sending a late header onto the bar as Stoke came within fractions of just their second away win of the season.

Tony Pulis' men undoubtedly finished stronger, a worry for Wigan as it is becoming a recurring theme. Martinez has a good starting eleven but some of the men underneath are short of what is required.

Pulis beamed: "Tuncay could have had four goals tonight, he is a terrific player with great ability. He gives us that little bit different along with Matthew Etherington and Ricardo Fuller.

"Those lads can do things off the cuff, but I am also pleased with the commitment we showed in the second half. We were very sloppy early on and Wigan were in control."

Martinez's side made a purposeful start that led to bookings for Ryan Shawcross and Etherington whose sneaky off-the-ball swipe at Charles N'Zogbia proved to be very costly.

The French winger picked himself up and pinged a perfect free kick towards the box. Paul Scharner rose majestically and powered a header beyond Thomas Sorensen for the sweetest of openers.

Wigan were outstanding in midfield where James McCarthy is living up to his reputation as a teenage prodigy while N'Zogbia caused chaos. Pulis had to change his back four to cope, with skipper Danny Higginbotham needing help.

However talented Tuncay sensed he could beat Gary Caldwell for skill. The Scot was booked for tripping him on the edge of the box and escaped when he tugged at the Turk again - with Pulis yelling for a red card on the touchline.

Robert Huth was also yellow-carded for fouling Hugo Rodallega as Wigan kept up their successful campaign of running at Stoke's uncompromising back line to put them off.

But the Potters showed plenty of spirit and kept going with Tuncay fluffing a half-chance to pull them level, but his enthusiasm and commitment kept his side going.

Wigan lost hamstring victim McCarthy and his drive and creation, but they dug deep and had to as stubborn Stoke hung on to the hope that there was a rare away goal in the chill wind.

Amazingly Stoke have only managed to score four times on their travels in this season of improvement. Fuller came on in a bid to change that poor statistic.

Rodallega was inches from a goal of the season contender with an outrageous bicycle kick that just landed over the bar - with Sorensen fearing another Maynor Figueroa-style moment.

Fuller got in for an angled shot that Chris Kirkland saved with his feet before Tuncay's wild swing and miss summed up his night of promise and frustration at that stage.

Stoke made very positive substitutions and James Beattie also went close to snatching a winner when he came on and crashed a shot that gave Kirkland his biggest test - which he passed with a diving save.

Martinez groaned: "I'm disappointed we didn't get a second goal, we were well worth the lead. We just got a bit anxious in the second half, Stoke had nothing to lose and threw bodies forward."

Meanwhile Pulis revealed Fuller wants to get the charges dropped after his nightclub incident. He said: "We hope the lad will come forward."