Manager Chris Hutchings insists Wigan must take their Carling Cup clash with Hull deadly seriously - or face being dumped out.
Hutchings admits he will be forced to shuffle his pack for the second-round tie after a hectic opening to the season.
Three games in the first week were followed by a midweek international break, before Wigan continued their fine start to the Barclays Premier League campaign with a 1-1 draw at West Ham on Saturday.
But Hutchings is adamant tonight's match against opponents from the Coca-Cola Championship must not be treated as an opportunity to relax.
"If you're in it you want to win it, it's as simple as that," he said of his hopes for the Carling Cup.
"We will take Hull very seriously and respect the fact that they want to dump us out of the cup."
Wigan's recent cup pedigree hardly bodes well, however, given that they bowed out of both domestic knock-out competitions at the first hurdle last season under former boss Paul Jewell.
Those disappointments at the hands of Crewe, in the Carling Cup, and Portsmouth, in the FA Cup, were all the more surprising given their run to the Carling Cup final a year earlier.
The defeat to League One Crewe set the tone for what proved a difficult season for the Latics, who only escaped relegation from the top flight on the final day.
Hutchings is aware of the need to keep his side's early-season momentum going against Hull at the JJB Stadium, but he is also keen to see key players rested for the challenges that lie ahead.
And given the weekend's gruelling exertions at a scorching Upton Park, changes are on Hutchings' mind.
"I think we'll probably change the team a little bit, I don't know how much at this moment in time, but it was very hot and three games in a week again, with the international duty, it might be time to rest one or two," he said.
"We've got some hungry pros though at this club, and whoever goes out there I expect them to win the game."
Three games in the first week were followed by a midweek international break, before Wigan continued their fine start to the Barclays Premier League campaign with a 1-1 draw at West Ham on Saturday.
But Hutchings is adamant tonight's match against opponents from the Coca-Cola Championship must not be treated as an opportunity to relax.
"If you're in it you want to win it, it's as simple as that," he said of his hopes for the Carling Cup.
"We will take Hull very seriously and respect the fact that they want to dump us out of the cup."
Wigan's recent cup pedigree hardly bodes well, however, given that they bowed out of both domestic knock-out competitions at the first hurdle last season under former boss Paul Jewell.
Those disappointments at the hands of Crewe, in the Carling Cup, and Portsmouth, in the FA Cup, were all the more surprising given their run to the Carling Cup final a year earlier.
The defeat to League One Crewe set the tone for what proved a difficult season for the Latics, who only escaped relegation from the top flight on the final day.
Hutchings is aware of the need to keep his side's early-season momentum going against Hull at the JJB Stadium, but he is also keen to see key players rested for the challenges that lie ahead.
And given the weekend's gruelling exertions at a scorching Upton Park, changes are on Hutchings' mind.
"I think we'll probably change the team a little bit, I don't know how much at this moment in time, but it was very hot and three games in a week again, with the international duty, it might be time to rest one or two," he said.
"We've got some hungry pros though at this club, and whoever goes out there I expect them to win the game."
Copyright (c) Press Association
Related Articles

Championship new boys keen on permanent deal for Aussie left-back

Aussie Elder scores in FA Cup upset
