Wigan boss Steve Bruce has empathised with Bolton counterpart Gary Megson over his decision to rest key men ahead of Sunday's relegation scrap.Despite being shorn of six players through ineligibility or injury, Megson left a further six first-choice stars at home as Bolton travelled to Portugal to face Sporting Lisbon in the UEFA Cup this week.

And although the Trotters' under-strength side put in a brave performance in Lisbon, they failed to reach the quarter-finals after going down 1-0 to lose 2-1 on aggregate.

Megson sees Sunday's Premier League clash at the JJB Stadium as the club's priority with Wanderers having slipped into the bottom three after losing their last three league games.

Victory at Wigan would not only lift Bolton out of the drop zone but above 13th-placed Wigan on goal difference, so Bruce can accept why Megson chose to leave so many players behind despite standing a good chance of reaching the last eight of a European competition.

"I can - and it's a decision he won't have taken lightly," said Bruce.

"I think in management the one thing you have to do is make decisions and it's a big call, a big decision.

"I'm sure he's had a chat with his chairman and said, 'look, the Premier League is of vital importance'.

"I think Gary knows as well as I do what it means if you slip out of the Premier League - people lose their jobs.

"It's horrific unless you can bounce back quickly and that's not easy because we've seen big teams and big clubs slip out of the Premier League and not recover.

"It's a big call for Gaz but I can understand why he's done it, that's for sure. He's obviously got a debate going and a debate raging, but I suppose that's what management is.

"I think he's looked at the bread and butter and thought 'the Premier League, for me, is the priority rather than having a successful run in the UEFA Cup'."

Wigan have edged to safety after losing just once in five games and have kept clean sheets in their last three games, claiming goalless draws against Arsenal and Manchester City.

But Bruce feels his players have let themselves down against their relegation rivals, including a 4-1 defeat by Bolton in the reverse fixture in December.

The Latics boss believes his side must put that right over the final nine games of the season if they are to be sure of Premier League survival.

"Usually to stay in the division, you target the teams you think will be in and around you to get the wins and that's vitally important," he said.

"For us, unfortunately, we haven't done that. We've had a couple of wins against Derby, which have lifted everybody.

"But it's been a disappointment that we went to Bolton, Middlesbrough and Sunderland and didn't pick up anything, so let's hope we can start this Sunday by making sure we get those three points."

Wigan have received a fitness boost for the vital clash with Emile Heskey given the all-clear after being forced off with a foot injury against Arsenal.

Scans confirmed the England striker has not suffered a break and he will be considered against Bolton, allowing Bruce to name an unchanged line-up.

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