Grant Holt is expected to take a big step towards full fitness by running out for Wigan Athletic's development side on Thursday afternoon.
The 34-year-old has been out of action for the last nine months due to a cruciate ligament injury.
Today's visit of Bolton Wanderers at the Robins Park Arena will provide Holt with the chance to play a big part, having also got some minutes under his belt in a behind-closed-doors friendly last week.
"Grant's been training well with us, and he'll keep pushing on with his recovery in the cup game on Thursday," Latics boss Gary Caldwell is quoted as saying by Wigan Today.
"We're looking at building up his game time now. The intensity of a match, compared to training, does go up a lot, and you have to build it up slowly.
"We're always monitoring his strength and other things, and ensuring he's getting better in all areas. The physios and the fitness coaches deal with all that. They know more than anyone what's going on, I'll leave all that to them and they'll control it."
Holt's last competitive appearance came on loan at Huddersfield Town in December 2014.
