Latics boss John Sheridan has a big defensive headache ahead of tomorrow's clash with Northampton Town at Boundary Park (KO 3pm).

Sean Gregan and John Thompson will both miss out after picking up injuries during the week.  Gregan is suffering from Achilles damage, having limped out of the midweek Johnstone's Paint Trophy tie at Doncaster, while Thompson has been referred to a specialist following problems with his knee.

The pair's absence leaves a hole alongside Reuben Hazell at the heart of Athletic's defence, and two players will be battling to fill it.  Neal Trotman looks a likely option and could make his first start of the season for the club, but Stefan Stam is also back in the frame after recovering from a hamstring strain.  The popular Dutchman played an hour of the reserves' defeat to West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday.

Cobblers boss Stuart Gray will be delighted with his side's progress since he took over as manager from John Gorman in January 2007.  After steering the club to a respectable 14th place last season, he has guided them to a solid start to the new campaign, with the Sixfields outfit currently sitting 12th in League One with 16 points from 12 outings following last week's 2-1 home success against Cheltenham.

Central to that position has been the form of striker Andy Kirk, who has bounced back from an indifferent season last time around to bag the goals this term.  Originally placed on the transfer list in 2006/07, the Northern Irish international subsequently pledged his future to the club and has hit nine goals so far.

Kirk faced increased competition up front at the start of the season after frontmen Colin Larkin and Poul Hubertz arrived at Sixfields in the summer from Mansfield and Millwall respectively, but he has held his place in the side with some impressive displays so far.  Meanwhile, boss Gray also boosted his squad by bringing in Ian Henderson (Norwich), Giles Coke (Mansfield), Danny Jackman (Gillingham), and Joe Howe, while bringing in loan pair Daniel Jones (Wolves) and Alex Russell (Bristol City)

Gray also cut his cloth accordingly in the summer, dispensing with the services of David Hunt, Pedj Bojic, Sean Dyche, Jerome Watt, Danny Green and Fred Murray, while experienced midfielder Ian Taylor announced his retirement.

Northampton's home form has quarterbacked their solid start to the season, with the Cobblers taking 13 of a possible 18 points at home so far and beating League One counterparts Millwall on home turf in the Carling Cup before losing out 2-0 at Premier League side Middlesbrough in the next round.

At Sixfields, they have taken maximum points from Doncaster (2-0), Huddersfield (3-0), Port Vale (2-1) and then Cheltenham last weekend (2-1), with a season-opening 1-1 draw against Swindon and a solitary defeat against Yeovil (1-2).

Howevever Town have not fared so well on their travels and are still searching for their first away win of the season after six attempts, having registered three draws (2-2 at Leyton Orient, 1-1 at Bournemouth and 2-2 at Tranmere) and three defeats (1-2 at Brighton, 0-2 at Millwall and 4-1 at Luton) so far away from home.

Ian Henderson is Gray's only injury concern -- the ex-Norwich man is suffering from damaged medial ligaments and will definitely miss the game.

Meanwhile Latics boss John Sheridan is still without goalkeepers Mark Crossley (thigh) and Les Pogliacomi (knee), so on-loan stopper Marlon Beresford will make his home debut.  Along with Gregan and Thompson, striker Lee Hughes will also miss out as he continues to recover from a double hernia operation.  Hughes took part in Friday morning training, but is still some way from a senior return.

Michael Ricketts is available for League action again after serving a one-match ban against Huddersfield last week, and he will battle with Deane Smalley, Lewis Alessandra and Matty Wolfenden for a starting spot up front.

Coverage of the game is live on Latics World from 2.45pm.

Latics (from): Beresford, Eardley, Kalala, Stam, Ricketts, Allott, Davies, Bertrand, Hazell, McDonald, Wolfenden, Taylor, Liddell, Trotman, Smalley, Alessandra, Kilkenny, Ollerenshaw.

Pre-Match Stats

Head-To-Head Record: (28 meetings) Latics 12, Northampton 9, Draw 7.

Last Time Out: 28/01/07 - Northampton Town 2 - 3 Oldham Athletic (Coca-Cola League One)

Latics: Pogliacomi, Eardley, Haining, Gregan, Charlton, Liddell, Wellens, Rocastle, Taylor (Edwards, 74), Warne (Hall, 82), Porter.

Subs Not Used: Stam, Dabo, Smith.

Northampton: Bunn, Chambers, Dyche (Laird, 63), Doig, Crowe, Jess (Aiston, 62), Burnell, Johnson, Holt, Kirk, Quinn (Robertson, 46).

Subs Not Used: Dunn, Taylor.

Match Betting courtesy of bet365: Latics 6/5, Northampton 2/1, Draw 9/4.