Image source, BBC Sport

Plenty at stake at both ends of the table tonight - although you could argue Wigan's need for three points is more pressing than Blackburn's.

Rovers cannot move into the top six even with victory tonight - barring the unlikely scenario they win by 14 goals or more - but they can go seventh, level on points with sixth-placed Brentford.

A point would move Wigan, meanwhile, off the foot of the table and a victory would lift them out of the relegation zone - should they achieve that, it would be only their second away win of 2019...

Image source, BBC Sport

Paul Cook's Wigan have failed to win at all on their travels this season, picking up just three points - all draws - from a possible 33, losing the other eight of their 11 away games thus far.

It's not a new problem either, their away form was equally poor last season, losing 16 of their 23 Championship games away from the DW Stadium - with only their fine home results steering them clear of relegation trouble.

They have won just one away league game in the calendar year - and that came more than six months ago on Good Friday at, amazingly, a Leeds United side who were challenging for the title.

How they would love a repeat tonight of Gavin Massey's double that day.

Image source, Getty Images

No team in the Championship - not table-topping West Bromwich Albion, not Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds United, not free-scoring Fulham - is in better form than Tony Mowbray's Blackburn Rovers.

After a sticky, winless October - in which Rovers picked up just two points from a possible 15 - they have bounced back in style and have won five of their past six games, the only blot in that run a 1-1 draw at Swansea.

Bradley Dack has been key, scoring four goals during that spell but Rovers proved they could cope without their talisman, winning 2-0 at Bristol City last time out despite the midfielder's one-game suspension.

They have won their past four games at Ewood Park too, albeit by the odd goal in each.

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These north-west rivals had played each other just three times before the turn of the century - but they have certainly become well acquainted since.

The pair spent seven seasons together in the top-flight, were relegated to the Championship within a year of each other and even slipped into League One together at the same time in 2017.

They continued to stick together like glue, both bouncing straight back up with Wigan pipping Rovers to the third-tier title by two points - but it is Rovers who have since adapted better to life back in the Championship.

Image source, Rex Features

Having battled through the crowds to do my Christmas food shop as well as through the traffic to get to the office, you might expect me to be all battled out this evening. Not so!

I'm in the mood for battles on the pitch this time, rather than for some cut price pre-Christmas steak in the supermarket (I got a nice bit of sirloin for four quid if you're interested. Take that pushy bloke in the parka!)

Anyway, where were we?

Oh yes. In-form Blackburn Rovers face off against bottom-of-the-table Wigan Athletic in tonight's Championship encounter. Will Rovers give their play-off aspirations a boost or will the Latics move out of the relegation zone with a valuable away win?

Kick-off is coming soon.

Image source, Rex Features