With the crowd for tomorrow's crunch match set to be the biggest of the season, Roberto Martinez has reacted positively to the fact the Latics fans are getting behind the team in force.

Ticket sales have already passed the 20,005 mark which was the previous largest attendance of this season for the visit of Manchester City last month.

Tickets are still available to home supporters who are on the Wigan Athletic ticketing database.Tickets can be purchased from the East Stand ticket office, which opens from 10.30am on Saturday morning.

The Latics manager has called for the club to be strong on and off the field and says the fans definitely have a part to play at the DW Stadium against Sunderland: "The game will be won on the field," he says, "but the help of our wonderful fans can make a big difference tomorrow.

"The players will walk on to the pitch with the belief and conviction that they can get a positve result and we need the fans to do the same."

Martinez says the fans have been fantastic all season, especially at the DW Stadium, where home form has been good.

And he has asked for more of the same.

"The home form has been really encouraging and we need to approch tomorrow's game exactly the way we approached the games against West Ham, Chelsea, Manchester City and Fulham.

"And we definitely need the support of the fans again to create a passionate atmosphere that will give the players a big lift."