Wigan boss Steve Bruce is praying his side save themselves from the drop long before the final day of the season - and a clash with former club Manchester United.

Bruce took over at the JJB Stadium from the sacked Chris Hutchings in early December when the Latics had taken just eight points from 14 games and were languishing in 19th in the Barclays Premier League.

Wigan are now up to 14th - their highest position since October 6 - after amassing a further 18 points from Bruce's 13 matches at the helm.

But Bruce knows his side are far from salvation, with his worst fear being a final-day showdown with the club he served as a player, with Wigan needing points to avoid relegation and United points to win the title.

As if to emphasise the point, a grimacing Bruce said: "No, no, no, no, no!

"I do not want it to come down to that final game with Manchester United. I don't want that at all.

"But if needs be, then we will have to do it. It's as simple as that, although of course I wouldn't want it to happen that way.

"We want it to happen five games before if we possibly can, but we will have to see what develops."

With rock-bottom Derby virtually down, it would appear the remaining two relegation places will come from the seven teams above the Rams, up to 12th-placed Middlesbrough.

Bruce, who admits he knows the fixtures "inside out", believes another three wins will be enough to guarantee the Latics a fourth consecutive season in the top flight.

"At the start of a season I've always said you need 38 points, and you target something like 10 wins to achieve that," added Bruce.

"We've seven so far, so another three more and I think we will virtually be there, especially when there are seven or eight teams in it, which is the case at the moment.

"We're all fighting for our lives.

"We obviously had a really good weekend last weekend because it went our way. Nobody else won, although it could quite easily turn around again.

"The weekend before we lost at Sunderland and other teams gained ground, so there is still a lot to play for. It is that tight."

Ahead of the clash at Eastlands with Manchester City - a team against whom Wigan have won four and drawn one of their five Premier League meetings - Bruce has warned his players not to take their foot off the gas.

"We've got ourselves in a really healthy position from where we were three months ago, and all credit to the players for that," added Bruce.

"But if they think they can be big-time Charlies, that their work is done, then this league kicks you.

"If you are not ready for it and you don't continue to show the same effort, discipline and work-rate you need to get out of trouble, then you will come unstuck.

"But the squad is looking healthy at the moment and playing well. We've rolled our sleeves up, grasped the nettle and had a right good go, which we needed to do.

"But we're not there yet. We've still 11 games to go.

The players are giving it their all at the minute, and I hope that continues."

Bruce again has virtually a full squad to choose from, with the only absentee being Ryan Taylor - who is sidelined with a rib injury.

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