PREVIEW
Everton are eyeing a top-four spot while Wigan are aiming to claw their way out of the relegation zone at Goodison Park.
With Arsenal not playing on Boxing Day, the Toffees can move into the UEFA Champions League places with a victory.
And confidence in the camp will be high after Saturday's 2-1 win at West Ham - their first away-day success since September.
David Moyes' side have not won back-to-back games in the Premier League since the first two fixtures of the current campaign but he will rarely have a better opportunity than against struggling Wigan.
Roberto Martinez's team continue to win admirers with their passing game but have taken just one point from their last five games to fall into the bottom three.
Not that Latics fans will be panicking after their dramatic upturn in fortunes towards the end of last season but they would be unwise to rely on similar success in 2013.
They are only in the drop zone on goal difference behind Southampton so a point may be enough on Merseyside - and a repeat of the 2-2 draw between these sides in October would be a treat for the neutrals.
TEAM NEWS
EVERTON
Toffees star Marouane Fellaini serves the second game of his three-match suspension for headbutting Ryan Shawcross at Stoke last week.
But fellow midfielder Darron Gibson is available because Everton have appealed his sending off against West Ham so any ban is delayed until a decision has been made.
David Moyes also has injury problems with Tony Hibbert (calf) and Kevin Mirallas (hamstring) both set to miss out.
WIGAN
Roberto Martinez could welcome back skipper Gary Caldwell after the Scot was an unused substitute in the defeat against Arsenal.
Caldwell's return would be a boost for Wigan as they have a defensive injury crisis with Antolin Alcaraz (groin), Ivan Ramis and Adrian Lopez (both hamstring) yet to return to the team.
Albert Crusat and Ben Watson remain long-term absentees with a knee injury and a broken leg respectively.
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Source: SkySports
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