Steve Bruce will lock horns with his old Manchester United mate Roy Keane in the FA Cup promising to give players he has "hardly seen yet" their chance to impress.

The Wigan chief has guided his new club out of the Premier League bottom three following the midweek draw at Liverpool, and now takes on Keane's Sunderland in the Cup at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

For both clubs the cup is of little importance as they fight for top-flight survival but Bruce sees this third-round tie as a useful opportunity to give some players a rest and others a welcome chance of action.

He could call in the likes of 'keeper Mike Pollitt and striker David Cotterill, while Jason Koumas - supposedly on offer in the transfer window - could also play.

And he may also give striker Emile Heskey the day off after withdrawing the England man from the Anfield match in the second half with muscle problems.

Bruce reckons Heskey is vital to Wigan's survival, so playing him in a cup tie may not be a risk the JJB boss thinks is worth it.

He said: "We took Emile Heskey off in the second half because he was struggling a bit with tight muscles. He is an important part of our survival plans and we need him fit for the second half of the season.

"We hope he will be OK now, but we must make sure he stays fit, he is that important to us.

"We have a few knocks, bumps and bruises, after the Liverpool game, and we must be careful. But I look at how we have done over the holiday period with five points from four matches and the lads have done exceptionally well.

"I am tempted to freshen up the side a bit, because there are people at the club I have not even seen play a first-team match yet.

"So this could be an ideal opportunity for me to see a few new faces.

"We will be bringing three or four lads in during the window, to give us some more strength in depth, but I still have to see what I have at the club."