Steve Bruce has urged his fringe stars to stake a claim for a regular place as Wigan continue their Premier League survival bid at Portsmouth.Bruce has been shorn of the services of four key players with left-back Erik Edman out for the season after rupturing a cruciate knee ligament in last week's 3-1 defeat at Blackburn, while midfield trio Michael Brown, Wilson Palacios and Jason Koumas are all suspended.

The Latics had a settled side as they went unbeaten in the previous four games, without even conceding a goal, but Bruce has been forced into a reshuffle for the Fratton Park visit.

Versatile Austrian Paul Scharner could switch from defence back into midfield and it has also opened the door for Salomon Olembe and Josip Skoko, who have made just six league starts between them this season.

But the midfield pair have made over 50 international appearances apiece for Cameroon and Australia, respectively, and Bruce is confident they can cope with stepping into Wigan's battle to beat the drop.

"I've got to make changes all over the place unfortunately with

three midfield players out and the injury to Edman," he said.

"To lose somebody like him for the best part of nine months is a horrible blow to us because he has been a steadying influence at the back there.

"That, with suspensions of Koumas, Palacios and Brown, gives me a few problems. But that's what football is and we have to adapt to it.

"The ones that are going to come in can stake a claim. They have been knocking on my door repeatedly so here's their opportunity.

"We've got good experience in Skoko and Olembe, and I can also use Scharner, who played midfield at the start of the season, so we'll have a reshuffle and a rethink."

Several Wigan players have been away on international duty this week and Bruce will also have to assess their condition before naming his starting line-up.

The Latics are aiming to bounce back from a 3-1 defeat at Blackburn last week and Bruce knows they face a stern test against Pompey, who remain in the top six thanks to the form of transfer window signing Jermain Defoe from Tottenham.

"I think letting Benjani (Mwaruwari) go to enable them to bring in Defoe was a wonderful piece of business and a great piece of management," said Bruce.

"To get a young goalscorer like that to go to Portsmouth was fantastic by Harry Redknapp, and you have to say well done to Harry for very quickly assembling a very strong team there."

More Football News from TEAMtalk