Rovers will be without on-loan Stoke striker Mamady Sidibe when they host the league strugglers.
Sidibe made an ahead-of-schedule return from a hamstring problem to face Yeovil last week but suffered a recurrence of the injury.
Earlier in the week, manager Ronnie Moore was optimistic over the 33-year-old's prospects but now accepts he is facing a further fortnight on the sidelines.
Playmaker Andy Robinson remains out with a similar complaint, alongside winger Adam McGurk (collapsed lung).
Moore told Tranmere Player: "Sidibe won't play, he'll be a fortnight away.
"Robbo and Adam are three weeks away. So we're a little bit short but it's an opportunity for other lads."
One player to be handed that opportunity of late is Abdulai Bell-Baggie, and the former Rotherham winger will hope for a third consecutive start after putting pen to paper on a new contract at the club this week.
Latics caretaker manager Tony Philliskirk expects to have Lee Barnard back in contention for this weekend's encounter.
Barnard missed last weekend's 2-0 defeat to Sheffield United after sustaining a hamstring strain during his side's FA Cup fifth-round replay at Everton but the on-loan Southampton forward returned to full training on Thursday.
Experienced defender Cliff Byrne remains sidelined due to an ankle problem and will have a pain-killing injection, with an eye on him being involved against Bournemouth on Saturday week.
Winger Cristian Montano returned for the reserves this week and is expected to do further work on building his fitness having been sidelined since suffering a torn thigh muscle against Scunthorpe on New Year's Day.
Montano's fellow wideman Youssouf M'Changama is out for the season due to medial knee ligament damage and is undergoing rehabilitation in his native France.
