Skipper Luke Chambers returns at Wigan as the Blues switch to a 3-5-2 system for the first time under Paul Lambert’s management.
Chambers, who has been out with a foot injury, starts in the back three with Jonas Knudsen and Matthew Pennington with Myles Kenlock and James Bree the wing-backs.
Teddy Bishop drops out of the 18 having been ill this week, although the 22-year-old did travel, with Trevoh Chalobah, Jon Nolan and Alan Judge in midfield, while Collin Quaner and Will Keane are up front.
Cole Skuse is on the bench for the second game running and Flynn Downes is also among the subs having been unwell last week.
For Wigan, Danny Fox and Lee Evans return to their XI with Cedric Kipre dropping to the bench and Nathan Byrne not in the matchday squad. Ex-Town striker Joe Garner is among the subs, while January Blues target Anthony Pilkington starts.
Wigan: Jones, James, Dunkley, Fox, Naismith, Evans, Morsy (c), Pilkington, Windass, Jacobs, Clarke. Subs: Walton, Gibson, Massey, McManaman, Kipre, Powell, Garner.
Town: Bialkowski, Bree, Pennington, Chambers (c), Knudsen, Kenlock, Chalobah, Nolan, Judge, Keane, Quaner. Subs: Gerken, Edwards, Skuse, Jackson, Downes, Nsiala, Dozzell. Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).