Gaffer Lee Johnson believes Crawley will pose a tough test on Saturday despite John Gregory naming five first team players on the transfer list today.
Gregory took the decision after seeing his side not win in the past four games which has seen them drop to 15th in the table after a bright start.
Johnson, who saw his side progress to the second round of the FA Cup last weekend, was full of praise for his opposite number.
He said: "I know John Gregory and he is a very good manager. I think they have got two or three injuries and I think Izale McLoad is suspended but Gregory is a good manager.
"I've come against him and only known him a short period of time but you can tell. He will have a group coming up here to win the game and he will have a plan for that. It is up to us and our players to do our best and win.
"It is important that he gets a team out to win the game and that is what I expect him to do. He will do anything to get his team prepared and whether that be a loan signing or promoting a youth team, he will have a game plan.
"It is not about what they do, and it is about us. We are in good form at the moment and the players are confident. They know the system, know the shape and we can change that if we need to. We start from a position of strength so it's up to the players to turn up on the day. If they don't, we will get beat."
The game will kick off at the earlier time of 1pm due to England's Euro 2016 qualifier against Slovenia and the manager believes the change could benefit his players.
"We have to adjust for it but it is not a bad thing. It is a good thing in the fact that if we win this game, we will go fourth. Whether it be for two hours, that is the challenge for the lads.
"It will be up to them to show if they want it with the energy and tempo," the gaffer commented.
Latics brought in Daniel Johnson from Aston Villa at the start of the week and the 33-year-old has not ruled out the possibility of more faces coming into the club.
"I'm always looking to bring players in," said Johnson. "The nature of a football club is that you try and get better. You lose the ones on the bottom and try and get better on the top and everyone shuffles down one.
"That is what you have to do because if you don't, you just stand still. If you go into any football club, you have to see progression and if you don't, you are standing still. We are out there with the team people are buzzing about."
Watch the full interview on Latics Player.