The Latics remain among the favourites with bookmakers to relinquish their top-flight status but Scharner insists their side is far stronger now than last season.

Certainly Chris Hutchings' men did not resemble relegation fodder during Tuesday's victory against Middlesbrough.

Antoine Sibierski's goal secured a 1-0 win, and Hutchings' other new recruits Titus Bramble, Jason Koumas, Mario Melchiot and Andreas Granqvist all played a significant role.

Austrian Scharner, 27, said: "It's always a good situation when people talk about Wigan going down.

"It makes the team closer and with the players we've signed I don't think we'll be anywhere near the relegation zone.

"The new signings know what potential we have and we're looking at the top half of the table.

"We did really well in pre-season after Chris Hutchings took over and we're trying to play good football.

"That's the key to us getting points."

Eyebrows were raised when Hutchings was promoted from assistant manager to succeed Paul Jewell as Latics boss in May.

His previous managerial tenure at Bradford ended in humiliation when he was sacked 12 games into the 2000-01 season after conjuring just one win.

The close-season recruitment of Sibierski and fellow Newcastle reject Bramble served only to add to the pessimism sweeping the Lancashire club.

But Sibierski, captured on a free transfer along with Bramble as part of Hutchings' summer recruitment drive, is proving a masterstroke of a signing with two goals in his first two games.

Bramble, for his part, excelled at the back against Middlesbrough while Wales midfielder Koumas, a $13million signing from West Brom, looks at home again in the top flight.

With Melchiot, Granqvist and Michael Brown further bolstering Wigan's squad in the summer, Scharner insists the prospect of a relegation dogfight is the last thing on anyone's minds.

He added: "Sibierski has got two goals in his first two games but all the new signings have impressed.

"Koumas is really difficult to mark and is always looking for that shooting opportunity.

"In midfield it's a joy to play with the likes of Sibierski and Emile Heskey because you play the ball into their feet and you get it back.

"We played a lot of good football against Middlesbrough and, with these players, we're trying to finish as high as we can."