mkdons.com details the storylines to follow heading into today's Sky Bet League One clash with Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium...
Returning to winning ways
After falling to their first defeat in five games at Stadium MK on Monday, the Dons will be looking to return to winning ways in Greater Manchester.
Dan Micciche’s men are back in the bottom four but have a chance to claw themselves out with a result at the weekend.
A draw will be enough if AFC Wimbledon fail to beat Scunthorpe United at the Cherry Red Records Stadium while they could climb as high as 18th if they were to win and results were to go their way elsewhere.
Other games to keep an eye on this Saturday include Oxford United against Oldham Athletic, Rochdale against Portsmouth and Walsall against Bury.
Competing with the top teams
The Dons take on another title-chaser this weekend but, as the team showed on Monday, there is no reason why they can’t fancy their chances at the DW Stadium.
Dan Micciche's side were unlucky not to take a point from their meeting with Blackburn Rovers, after dominant second-half display saw them go close to equalising on a number of occasions.
The men from MK1 do have a good record against sides at the top end of the Sky Bet League One table.
The Dons held second-placed Shrewsbury Town to a 1-1 draw back in December and were arguably deserving of more. They beat fourth-placed Rotherham United at Stadium MK three weeks ago and, on a memorable afternoon in December, they saw off promotion-chasing Peterborough United despite being reduced to nine men. They also took a point off sixth-placed Charlton Athletic at The Valley back in November.
Saturday will be tough but to write Micciche’s men off wouldn’t do justice to the character they’ve shown against the top teams this season.
Fighting for places
With Scott Golbourne back fit and Elliott Ward available for selection once again, Dan Micciche has a real selection headache to deal with this weekend.
Golbourne played the second 45 on Monday and will be pushing for a start while Ward, who has impressed since joining on loan from Blackburn Rovers, will want to feature.
However, Ethan Ebanks-Landell impressed on Monday and Dean Lewington, Scott Wootton and George Williams will all want to keep their places having contributed to what has become a much tighter defensive unit.
That selection headache will only get stronger in the coming weeks too, with Josh Tymon nearing a comeback – the Stoke City loanee is back at Stadium MK after a spell on the sidelines.
Who plays on Saturday? Make sure to check @MKDonsFC on Twitter at 2pm for the latest team news.
Former Latic v Former Don
One of the key matchups this weekend will be between two players taking on their former employers.
Lee Nicholls, who began his career with Wigan Athletic, shone in the meeting with the Latics on the opening day of the season and has enjoyed a strong 2017/18 campaign. He will want to continue that good form against his old side on Saturday.
One man looking to prevent that happening is someone very familiar to Dons fans – Will Grigg. The Northern Ireland international played a crucial role in the 2014/15 promotion, scoring 21 times while on loan from Brentford.
Grigg has 20 goals to his name this season, including one against AFC Bournemouth, two at home to West Ham United and the winner in Wigan Athletic’s shock victory over Manchester City.
Who will come out on top this weekend?
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Tickets for Saturday's clash with Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium are priced at £20 adults, £10 seniors, £8 under-18s and £5 under-11s while tickets for under-5s are just £2.
