First team boss Dean Holden is challenging his players to respond in the right way as Sheffield United are the visitors to SportsDirect.com Park on Saturday.
Defeat on Easter Monday to Crawley Town was a tough one to take for Holden and he is challenging his players to end the season strongly.
He said: "We want a fine end to the season for us. We have had some good moments and not so good times so whenever we have come up against it, certainly since I've been in charge, when there is a challenge to respond to, the lads have usually done that. I fully expect them to do that on Saturday."
Sheffield United come into the game occupying a play off position and on good form and the manager is under no illusions as to the test his players are against.
"They have had a good surge recently and they should be up there with the players that they have got. They have a very experienced management team behind them and they know how to win games.
"We watched them last week at Barnsley and they could have won by a couple more on the day, probably. Against Doncaster the other night they had another interesting game but we know we have a lot to do to get something out the game but when people don't fancy us, we have responded. It's a very exciting game for all of us."
Although the 35-year-old's position in the summer is still up in the air, he is comfortable with the position and has started preparations for next season.
Holden said: "In terms of next season and pre-season, that needs to be looked at in terms of organising games and where lads are going to train. That's all going on in the background but that's nothing to worry about.
"You have to plan because you don't want to be caught under-prepared and that's something I'll never be. Like I said on day one, I have prepared as if I'm going to be here for the long term because that's the way I think it should be done.
"If that's not the case then so be it. I'm preparing for Saturday's game first and foremost but in the back of my mind there is pre-season organise, recruitment, training facilities, there are a whole host of things that I'd like to put in place."
Watch the full interview on Latics Player.