Good afternoon all and thanks for joining us as we bring you live coverage of Wigan Athletic's FA CUP sixth-round clash with Premier League side Southampton at the DW Stadium. Saints will have new boss Mark Hughes on the touchline as they aim to give themselves some much-need respite from their current league woes. As for the Latics, Paul Cook's men knocked out champions-elect Manchester City in the previous round and will be hoping for at least another visit to Wembley in the coming months.

SOUTHAMPTON STARTING XI: McCarthy; Cedric, Stephens, Hoedt, Bertrand; Hojbjerg, Lemina, Tadic, Boufal; Carrillo, Gabbiadini

SOUTHAMPTON SUBSTITUTES: Forster, Yoshida, Ward-Prowse, Sims, Romeu, Redmond, Long

WIGAN ATHLETIC STARTING XI: Walton; Byrne, Elder, Dunkley, Burn; Morsy, Power; Massey, Roberts, Jacobs; Grigg

WIGAN ATHLETIC SUBSTITUTES: Jones, Perkins, Bruce, Colclough, Hunt, Powell, Fulton

As expected, the major news for the hosts sees Gary Roberts come in to replace the influential Nick Powell in midfield. Powell picked up a knock during the club's recent midweek victory over Bradford City. Roberts represents just the one change to this Wigan side.

For the visitors, it looks like Mark Hughes might just opt to play a 4-4-2 with both Guido Carrillo and Manolo Gabbiadini leading the line up top.

Hughes has opted for a creative midfield that makes the use of Sofiane Boufal, Dusan Tadic, Mario Lemina and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

At the back, Saints have led with a centre-back pairing of Jack Stephens and Wesley Hoedt, while Cedric and Ryan Bertrand feature in the full-back positions. Alex McCarthy is in goal with Fraser Forster on the bench this afternoon.

So the Latics come into the game having famously ousted 10-man Manchester City in the fifth round after Will Grigg's memorable finish at the DW Stadium last month and the home fans will now be hoping to dismiss a fourth Premier League side in their current cup run.

Despite some recent wobbles in League One, this Wigan side have been remarkable domestically. The Latics have only lost two of their last 22 matches in all competitions.

The DW has become something of a fortress of late too. Cook's charges have kept eight clean sheets in their last 10 competitive home matches and they are coming up against a Southampton side with a rather poor record in front of goal.

Central to Wigan's memorable march in the cup has been the role of frontman Will Grigg. The striker has been the standout performer in the cup this term and leads the scoring charts with seven FA Cup goals. The 26-year-old has scored four against top-flight opposition in the club's run too.

The hosts will be gutted that flair player Powell is missing today, but Saints will do well to keep an eye on young playmaker Michael Jacobs, who currently finds himself in red-hot form with three goals in his last four appearances in all competitions.

Wigan will be aiming to get themselves in the history books here today. Cook's men have already knocked out three top-flight teams in Bournemouth, West Ham and Manchester City. The last club from outside the top flight to send four sides packing in a campaign was West Ham during the 1979-80 season. The Hammers actually went on to win the cup that year too!

Wigan have proved fairly consistent when reaching the last eight too. The Latics have reached the quarter three times prior to this meeting today. Wigan have progressed twice out of those three. In 2013-14 they beat Everton and went on to win the cup against Manchester City. The following year they got the better of City again in the quarters, before being knocked out by Arsenal on penalties in the semi-finals.

After being relegated from the top flight, Wigan have tended to do well against Premier League sides. Following relegation, the Latics have won six FA Cup ties against top-flight opposition. That figure represents double the total of any other non-Premier League outfit during the period.

Wigan have now kept a clean sheet in their last three FA Cup matches which have all come against Premier League sides.

The club's form has been indifferent after beating City and they now hold third spot in the standings in League One. Cook's men do have three games in hand over leaders Blackburn Rovers, though, and they will fancy their chances of returning to the top soon enough. The club got back to winning ways with a midweek win over Bradford City after two testing draws against Rovers and Scunthorpe.

Looking at the visitors today, Southampton are deep in the midst of a problematic relegation struggle and it is still unclear as to how serious Hughes will take this fixture given the club's forthcoming battle to retain their Premier League status.

What we can see, though, is that Hughes is clearly planning to attack today with two strikers up top. Carrillo is yet to score for Southampton in eight appearances after a club-record move in January, but he has been given another chance to prove himself this afternoon.

Such have been the club's problems in front of goal, Charlie Austin remains the team's top scorer with six goals and he will be missing today through injury. Saints have conceded just one goal in the cup and that came against West Bromwich Albion in the last round, but they have also only scored an austere four in their three fixtures in the tournament.

Despite the club's woes in the Premier League, statistics do offer the visitors a glimmer of hope against Wigan today. Southampton have not suffered defeat in an away game since a 1-0 loss to Sunderland in 2014.

The coastal club have always tended to do the business against lower-league sides. Saints have progressed from 18 of their last 19 FA Cup matches against teams from the lower tiers. The last time the club were beaten by someone from the lower reaches came in 2008 after a defeat to Bristol Rovers.

Mauricio Pellegrino's spell at the club tended to cause a few looks of bewilderment from fans at times. The coach was by no means a bad manager, although a lack of excitement and a preference for caution ultimately led to the coach's demise. In fact, before his sacking, Southampton had only lost two of their last 11 matches.

The club are, however, facing the serious prospect of being relegated if Hughes is not able to turn a corner quickly. This contest will offer some fans relief. Southampton are now playing in their first FA Cup quarter-final since the 2004-05 season, when they went out to Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United.

This is only the second meeting between the two teams in the FA Cup. Southampton won the previous fixture 3-0 in a fourth round match in January 1986. Latics boss Cook was playing for the Lancashire club that day.

The last time these two sides met was during the Premier League season in 2013 when they drew 2-2 at the DW. Prior to that, the Latics had beaten Saints 2-0 away from home at St Mary's in the reverse of that fixture.

PREDICTION! Southampton have more attacking quality than they have shown this season and you would expect a bit of "new-manager bounce" to allow the visitors to throw off the shackles this afternoon. Cook will be aware that neither side has anything to lose with arguably bigger fixtures elsewhere. Having said that, the FA Cup is of huge historical importance and could help to provide a springboard for both clubs at testing points of their domestic seasons. It'll be a close encounter, but I'm backing the Saints to progress with a 2-1 win.

Ahead of the game, Cook has been quick to reiterate that his side should still be considered as underdogs going into the contest:

"In our dressing room we're fully aware what we're about to engage with. We've had a great cup run. The Bournemouth home game, the draw at Bournemouth was fantastic, the West Ham game was a great game for us, the Man City game purely on the result takes all the limelight.

"And now we go into a game on Sunday where people are actually saying to us it's a 50-50 game. And as a manager, and a football fan for a long time, I don't see it as a 50-50 game. I'd love to tell everyone I do, but I don't see it as that at all."

As for Hughes, the new boss has said that he has already seen promising signs during his early training sessions with his new players:

"We've been working for two days and I've been encouraged by what I've seen. I know we've got the talent here to get the job done. I've been in the Premier League a long time and won a lot of points. We're looking short term for now and that allows us to focus on the job at hand. There's a real energy to the club, which I like. We're all pushing in the right direction and we need to confirm that by winning football matches."

The players are now making their way out onto the pitch. Here's a quick recap of the starting XIs:

WIGAN ATHLETIC STARTING XI: Walton; Byrne, Elder, Dunkley, Burn; Morsy, Power; Massey, Roberts, Jacobs; Grigg

SOUTHAMPTON STARTING XI: McCarthy; Cedric, Stephens, Hoedt, Bertrand; Hojbjerg, Lemina, Tadic, Boufal; Carrillo, Gabbiadini

KICKOFF! Wigan get us moving here at the DW, featuring in their blue and white home kit, while the visiting Saints are in a rather garish turquoise and black... No replays in this fixture, remember.

Some positive work already from the hosts who move the ball about with real verve on the edge of the visiting box. Saints are unmoved though and they hold their line to eventually see away the danger when Massey tries to force the issue.

Jacbos is given his first chance to run at Cedric, but the full-back does well enough to keep out the winger with a little help from covering centre-back Hoedt over on the left. Wigan eventually work the ball back across to the right, where Byrne is able to win a cheap corner.

Power whips in the corner and the wind soon drags it wide of the box. Possession is then shifted to Massey, who takes an effort on the volley that goes flying over McCarthy's goal from the edge of the area.

The press is looking effective already for Wigan, this time as Roberts wins possession off Cedric to feed Grigg, but the striker is eventually tackled by Stephens just outside of the box.

Saints put together their first decent spell on the ball, although Carrillo is penalised for going through the back of Jacobs when trying to win a knockdown on the edge of the box. Wigan have started the better here, really...

CLOSE! Byrne has started this game with plenty of energy and he has his wits about him to cut out a slack ball down the right channel as Bertrand tries to play in Tadic. Saints are soon awarded a cheap free kick on the right, which is turned in by Boufal. Walton spills his catch but then gathers at the second attempt just as the pressure is mounting.

The visitors are beginning to find there feet here as they put some increasing pressure on the Wigan defence. Burn stands tall, though, as he heads away a cross from deep with Carrillo lurking.

CLOSE! Fantastic break now from Wigan as the hosts gallop away at pace. Grigg receives the ball inside the area and turns his man, before seeing his eventual shot turned away by a defender on its way towards McCarthy.

CHANCE! Southampton are careless in possession now as Lemina is robbed and the ball is fed to Massey, whose shot is turned away for a corner. The set piece is worked out to Byrne and his deflected effort runs across the face of goal with Dunkley just a whisker away from getting a vital touch to turn it into the net.

That was close from Wigan and Cook will be pleased with his side's early endeavour. The hosts have kept Saints quiet in the opening 20 minutes while creating a few chances for themselves.

SHOT! Slightly better from Saints now, as Tadic shows good feet to feed Lemina on the edge of the box. The playmaker shows great skill to turn his marker, but his shot on his left is always rising and clears the back post by some distance.

CHANCE! Wigan's approach play is brilliant here as they launch another counter through Massey. The midfielder chips towards Grigg and the knockdown falls kindly to Roberts in the centre of the box. The veteran opts for a chipped finish and is unable to test McCarthy. He should have put his laces through it...

Byrne is working hard down the right flank and he does well to earn what is now Wigan's seventh corner of the game already. The set piece is fluffed and Saints can counter, although Burn makes a fantastic recovering tackle to dispossess Gabbiadini.

Dunkley is asked some serious questions by Gabbiadini, but the Wigan man is equal to it as he muscles the striker out of the way in order to clinch a goal kick for the hosts who are just starting to be asked a few questions at the back.

Wigan are giving more than they are getting, though, that is for certain. Byrne gallops again down the right and turns in a brilliant cross for Grigg, leaving Stephens to make a vital header to clear the danger.

Cook urges his side forward as they continue to press with great intensity, this time as they force Boufal to concede a needless corner. The set piece is a poor one though as the ball goes out of play before flying back into play.

It's actually quite difficult to tell who the Premier League side is at the moment. Southampton have done little to test Wigan so far, but they do have the quality to change that in an instant.

Hughes is barking orders from the touchline and he does not look too impressed. Saints respond brightly as Gabbiadini breaks beyond the last man to try to get on the end of Bertrand's clever cross from the left, but the striker is soon flagged for offside.

The right side is proving most profitable for the hosts, who have worked some promising combinations between Bryne and Massey. This time Roberts moves into space and is able to win a free kick off Lemina on the right side.

The resulting set piece is a testing one for Southampton, although McCarthy shows some great positivity to come off his line amidst the bodies and punch clear.

Boufal finds room on the left and is able to drive into the box. He beats the first man, but Dunkley proves composed by getting across to cover and clear the danger.

CLOSE! Wonderful work from Wigan down at the other end sees Roberts and Grigg combine, but the latter cannot quite shift his body in time to shape a shot on goal.

Byrne is driving at pace again down the right and he produces an outstanding run before trying to shift the play to Massey, only to be thwarted by Bertrand who recovers well at left-back.

Roberts shows some class of his own as he turns his marker on the left channel and aims to cross into the middle, although Hoedt is able to clear at the near post without a Wigan man in sight.

The hosts have been fantastic during this first half but just do not have the goal their play perhaps deserved. Saints are clinging on for half time at the moment. Power drives in a corner from the left, which McCarthy has to punch over the bar with the wind having its say.

CLOSE! More pressure from the hosts sees Massey turn a teasing ball into the middle, which is flicked on by Dunkley. The ball drops between two Saints centre-backs with Grigg battling to get to the loose ball. It does not fall kindly enough for the striker, though, allowing the visitors to clear.

CLOSE! Who have they not scored? It's Jacobs this time who races down the left wing to beat Cedric. The youngster cross perfectly across the face of goal, but Grigg cannot quite anticipate the flight of the ball and it flashes past the forward before he can react.

No arguments as to who the better side is at the moment, Wigan have dominated this first half as they aim for a spot in the quarter-finals.

The Latics have had three or four great chances and should be ahead. Cook will be slightly concerned that his side have nothing to show for their endeavour and creativity so far.

Hughes can only hope for an improvement from his men. The visitors have been well off the boil and can only get better. Saints will know that they have at least a chance or two in them. Have Wigan spurned too many?

SECOND HALF! We are back moving again, Southampton get the second half underway at the DW Stadium...

Wigan have started with another intensive press and Hoedt is on the end of it this time as he is forced to hoof clear from the back under pressure from Grigg and Roberts.

Roberts is afforded time to turn on the edge of the area, but his cross into the middle is a poor one and fails to clear the first man in Stephens.

Saints shift through the gears as the ball is shifted out wide to Bertrand, although Byrne defends well and is able to block the full-back's cross out for a throw. The visitors are moving the ball a little quicker in this second half, that much is already evident.

Roberts does well as he buys a clever free kick when leading a counter. It comes just at the right time with Saints just gaining a bit of a foothold inside the Wigan half.

Cedric shows great perception as he just about gets a foot to the ball with Grigg itching to break beyond inside the box. The resulting corner is thumped away by Stephens. The ball soon comes back to Wigan on the edge of the box, where Jacob sends a bending effort wide of the far post.

Cook's men are showing plenty of thought and creativity, but so far that vital piece of quality on the final touch has alluded them. Will that become their shortfall as this game progresses?

CLOSE! Southampton continue to back off with Massey driving at goal. The space opens up for a shot, prompting the midfielder to drill one across the face of goal and wide of McCarthy's far post.

End to end at the moment... Boufal gallops into space on the left wing and is able to send a testing ball towards the front post, where Dunkley reads the play well to get a foot in and clear before Carrillo can intervene.

SAVE! Immense goalkeeping from Walton. Byrne plays a suicidal pass back towards the keeper when under pressure, allowing Gabbiadini to find himself one-on-one with the stopper. The striker should convert with ease, but Walton sticks a leg out to make a tremendous save to deny the Italian.

Southampton are turning the screw slightly. Bertrand aims to cross towards the front post, but Dunkley is over in the nick of time to put off Gabbiadini.

Ouch, a real killer blow for Wigan as Southampton take their only real chance of the game. A corner is sent in from the left and Hojbjerg is quickest to react by bundling the ball home from close range despite a number of bodies on the line.

SUBSTITUTIONS Changes all around now as Redmond takes the place of Boufal for the Saints. Wigan make two big calls now as Powell and Ryan Colclough replaced Roberts and Massey in midfield. The hosts are going for it clearly...

Gaps are just starting to appear in this Wigan side as they push for an equaliser. The likes of Tadic and Lemina will be licking their lips...

Wigan are starting to tire and you cannot blame them after the industry they have shown for much of this contest. Grigg is chasing a lost cause with a long ball forward, which Hoedt calmly sees out for a goal kick.

Wigan have just dropped off the pace and Southampton are starting to seize control. The hosts are going to have a tough final 20 minutes here.

Wigan lose possession in midfield and Southampton break with real pace to feed Gabbiadini, who is brought down under a tackle from a tiring Burn in the heart of defence. The Italian steps up to convert from the spot, but Walton makes one of the best penalty saves you will see as he leaps to his left in order to push the striker's thumped effort wide of the post.

What have Wigan got now? Will that save inspire them to something special here. They've reverted to slightly more industrial tactics with long balls forward for Grigg, but nothing is giving just yet.

Power does well this time to progress down the right and he turns in a cross towards the front post for Grigg, although McCarthy is commanding and comes out to gather with a brave save.

It's all Wigan at the moment and they regained a slight bit of composure as they search for this leveller. Powell is trying to get on the ball, but the Saints are shutting the playmaker down quickly.

And still Wigan push but there is nothing to show for it as Stephens and Hoedt gang up to shut out Grigg at the front post. What have Wigan got left in them here?

The visitors are almost in for a second now as Gabbiadini seeks to beat the offside trap, although Burn is out quickly and the linesman raises his flag.

The quality has slowly ebbed from these last few minutes as Southampton shut down and Wigan perhaps prove a little too eager going forward. Southampton are closing in on a crucial win here...

Southampton get the chance to show some decent game management as they waste some time down inside the Wigan half. Cedric does well to hold off Elder and the visitors buy a couple of precious seconds.

CLOSE! It look like Hunt might just see his header dupe McCarthy and fall into the net, but Hoedt does incredibly well to somehow head over the bar.

Now that is game over as Cedric leaps forward on the left to counter. He comes inside and is able to finish cutely into the far corner despite pressure from Power.

Real heartache for the hosts here, as they see Southampton progress into the semi-finals of the FA Cup. Wigan perhaps had their chances during the first half, but the Saints proved a little too clinical in the second period in order to earn a crucial win for the coastal club.

Delight then for Hughes, who pushes his side into the semis with a victory during his first game in charge of the club. That means Southampton are now into the hat alongside Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, with Leicester City and Chelsea facing each other later today. That's going to be all from me this afternoon, thanks for joining us!