Alex McLeish is expecting former Birmingham boss Steve Bruce to have his Wigan players "wound up to fever pitch" for Saturday's JJB clash.Bruce has hit out at the Blues board of directors in the build-up to the game after the acrimonious way his successful six year spell at St Andrews came to an end in October.
McLeish insists the former Manchester United skipper can look back with great pride on his achievements at City and is aware he will be desperate to put one over on them in the bottom-six clash.
But the former Scotland boss knows his players will be bubbling with confidence after last weekend's impressive 3-1 win over Manchester City moved them four points clear of the relegation zone.
He said: "We know what we will face, Steve will be very determined to beat his old club and that would be natural for the type of character Steve is anyway.
"He will have the Wigan players wound up to fever pitch in the dressing room before kick off on Saturday.
"I know Steve well and he did a great job at Birmingham. It is difficult when you are in testing situations sometimes and don't have the spending power of the top clubs.
"You then have to do what you can and get the best out of the players and, of course, you need a board and fans who are understanding from that point of view also. Steve can look back with pride at his time here.
"He left behind a young, hard-working squad plus experienced guys like Radhi Jaidi. There are not many here who have played a full Premier League season. They are fledglings in terms of the Premier League but they are learning fast."
McLeish added: "Steve has got Wigan excelling on their own pitch and we have to try and dent their record. But we have got to be going into the Wigan game with confidence after last week.
"While Steve will want to do well, equally our players will want to put one over on their old boss.
"Steve will know one or two things about individuals in the side but in the Premier League, with the exposure it gets, everyone knows everyone these days. There is really no stone now to be unturned."
McLeish wants his players to build on the success against Sven-Goran Eriksson's side and also combat the physical threat likely to be posed by the Latics, including former Blues striker Emile Heskey.
He said: "The league situation can change week in and week out but we can be in a better position. That is the challenge. We can be in an even better position.
"I just hope the players keep up the same standards they have shown me in recent weeks.
"Emile Heskey is a top player but the players have to handle things. It is something you have to deal with. It is nothing the players have to fret about.
"It is another terrific player we are up against and it will be a big feather in their cap if they can keep Emile quiet.
"If Wigan are physical, then we have got to stand up to that. They do play a pressing game and get bodies forward and have a great presence in the team (Heskey). If you have got that, why not use it?"
More Football News from TEAMtalk
