Wigan boss Roberto Martinez will not gamble with the club's Premier League status when it comes to their FA Cup campaign.
The Latics are the only side currently locked in a top-flight basement battle to still be in the hunt for cup glory.
That means Martinez must strike the right balance when it comes to managing his squad and the demands placed upon his key men.
He appreciates as much and has assured Wigan supporters that survival remains the top priority, with it likely that he will make sweeping changes to his side for an FA Cup quarter-final clash with Everton on Saturday.
When asked if cup runs can affect league performance, Martinez said: "Yes. If you have the same 11 players, it is impossible to maintain the same level of performance. That is proven.
"But if you have a big enough squad you can share demands and that is what we have done this season.
"Success in the cup is what we want but not at the price of our league status. I will never allow that to happen."
