Wigan Game Top Priority - Megson

Bolton Wanderers - polished in continental company but a bit of a mess domestically, appear to be harboring a split personality. Still to be beaten in Europe after eight games in this season's Uefa Cup, they have lost their last three Premier League fixtures.

Relegation remains a real threat but, as he prepared his side for tonight's visit of Sporting Lisbon, Gary Megson was anxious to debunk suggestions that Bolton could have done with losing to Atlético Madrid in the last round. "The fact we are in a precarious position is not a result of Europe," he said. "The position we were in a few months ago when we were bottom and a point behind Derby was far worse.

"Since then we've had some decent performances and good results in the Uefa Cup in places like Munich, Belgrade and Madrid and they have helped our confidence. Although we have lost our last three league games, at least we are now in with a fighting chance of staying up rather than merely being hung out with the washing." Even so Megson accepts that Bolton's pivotal date at Wigan in nine days' time is far more important than facing Sporting over two legs for a place in the Uefa Cup quarter finals.

"Regardless of how we shape up tomorrow my focus going into the second leg in Lisbon next week will undoubtedly be on Wigan," he insisted. "The priority is for us to retain our Premier League status."

Bolton have only scored six goals in the 10 games since Nicolas Anelka's defection to Chelsea and they will be further hampered by the suspension of El Hadji Diouf tonight while Kevin Nolan is also likely to miss out with a back injury.

At just 38, Sporting's coach, Paulo Bento, a former Portugal international midfielder, is tipped as a European managerial talent to watch but injury could deprive him of Liedsen, his Brazilian striker at The Reebok. Neverthless Bolton will need to be mindful of a Sporting side lacking the star names of old but featuring an impressive Montenegran midfielder in Simon Vukcevic.

Bolton (possible, 4-5-1) Jasskelainen; A O'Brien, Cahill, Meite, Gardner; Stelios, Campo, Guthrie, J O'Brien, Taylor; Davies. Substitutes Al-Habsi, Samuel, Andranik, Vaz Te, Alonso, Nolan, Helgusson

Sporting Lisbon (probable, 4-4-1-1) Patricio; Abel, Tonel, Polga, Grimi; Veloso, B Pereirinha, Moutinho, Zmailov; Vukcevic; Tiui. Substitutes Stojkovic, Celsinho, Purovic, Liedsen, Gladstone, Silva, Romagnol.