Manager Lee Johnson experimented with a new formation during Latics' 2-2 pre-season draw with Morecambe and felt it worked successfully.
Adam Lockwood and Jonson Clarke-Harris twice put Latics ahead in a 3-5-2 system but they were pegged back by goals from Mark Hughes and Paul Mullin.The manager was quick to refer to his new formation during his post match interview, insisting it might be needed next season.
He said: "It was a great work out. We tried a new formation and we will have to use that at times going into the season, particularly if we may be a goal down at half time because it's an attacking formation.
"I thought in the first half we played some really neat stuff. We are still at the stage where we are building fitness. We looked like we could definitely play that system so we certainly have the profiles required within the squad and a lot of good things come out of it."
Clarke-Harris scored a stunning goal, taking his goal tally to four during pre-season but the manager is still demanding more from his striker.
"I said to Tommy Wright that this was his sort of area. As soon as he gets it on the inside right, we know what he can do but I won't let him count that goal because I want him to score the goals inside the six-yard box," commented Johnson.
"We know he can do that but we want him to get the poachers goal and that's going to be important for him."
The players headed off on a team building exercise in the Lake District last night and it is an experience for everybody to get to know each other better, according to the gaffer.
"How are they going to talk to each other? Usually they text each other when they are sat in the dressing room together," joked Johnson.
"It's going to be nice but tough. We are going to do some team building and set some goals for the season. I'm looking forward to everyone living in each others pockets for a couple of days and seeing what the new guys are really like."
Watch the full interview on Latics Player.