Wigan stayed up last season with a dramatic win over Sheffield United on the final afternoon.

This season, however, they will face a Manchester United side that could need victory to clinch the Barclays Premier League title and Kilbane believes it is important to get the job done in the next two matches.

Wigan have drawn with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur in their last two matches but are only five points above the relegation zone after Bolton Wanderers recorded back-to-back victories.

huge opportunity

And Kilbane is focused on beating Reading this weekend, which would guarantee their top-flight status for next term.

"We've jumped up two places with the point against Spurs so we have to be happy with that," said Kilbane.

"But Bolton have put the cat among the pigeons with two massive wins on the bounce and we are still not safe. Of course we don't want it to go to the last day again after last year. We want it settled before then.

"We wouldn't want another nail-biter like that, so our next game is a huge opportunity for us - we know that. Another win and we're safe. Reading will come here as a wounded animal and will be tough to beat, but we know what we have to do."