Premier League match time comes to the DW Stadium on Saturday, January 15, with Wigan set to host Fulham in match week 23.
The first leg game between the sides hosted by Fulham at Craven Cottage on October 30, went 2-0 in the hosts' favour. Dempsey scored both the goals, the first on the half-hour and the second a minute before the interval.
The Cottagers dominated throughout in what was a clinical performance, and the battle remained even initially, with neither team ready to concede space in midfield, until Fulham decided on a flank attack. They got immediate results when Salcido found Dempsey with a cross.
Wigan were beaten by a better team on the day, and missed James McCarthy in midfield owing to injury. They were beaten to the ball by Hughes' wards, and clearly lacked a right winger to counter Fulham's flank charge.
Where there was a frenzy to Fulham's intent before the break, they eased the pace somewhat in the second half.
Head to head, in the last 11 league matches played between the sides, Fulham have established a 4-2 lead over Wigan.
Nineteenth-placed Wigan have won just 2 of 11matches hosted this season, while drawing 5 and losing remaining 4. Placed 14th in the points table, the Cottagers have won just one of their 10 games on the road, while drawing 5 and losing 4.
Wigan have won just 2 of their 10 games while losing 3 and drawing the rest. Fulham have done worse, losing 5 and drawing 3 while also winning 2 of their last games in the league. But importantly, Mark Hughes' squad have won 2 of their last 3 games and have some momentum going for them ahead of Saturday's game. Their last win in match week 22 was a 3-0 thrashing of West Brom at home.
In contrast, the Latics' last win came four games ago. Their game in match week 22, away against Bolton, ended in a 1-1 stalemate.
Current form favours Fulham, but Wigan are capable of neutralising that advantage in front of their home fans.
Wigan had the following men in their starting eleven against Bolton: Kirkland, Gohouri, Alcaraz, Caldwell, Stam, Figueroa, Thomas, Watson, Cleverley, McArthur and Rodalegga. Diame, Pollitt and McManaman featured as substitutes.
Fulham's starting eleven against West Brom comprised Stockdale, Pantsil, Hangeland, Hughes, Baird, Davies, Murphy, Etuhu, Duff, Dempsey and Kamara. Gera, Johnson and Riise were used as substitutes.
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