Martinez excited by challenge

Roberto Martinez: Wigan kick things off against Champions League winners Chelsea

Roberto Martinez is looking forward to another Premier League campaign at Wigan and a mouth-watering contest with Chelsea on the opening day.

The fixtures for the 2012/13 campaign were released on Monday and the Latics have been handed a testing start.

They will kick things off against UEFA Champions League winners Chelsea, with the Blues due at the DW Stadium on 18th August.

Wigan have taken in such a fixture once before, with their first ever Premier League campaign pitching them into combat with then reigning champions Chelsea.

They held their own on that occasion before Hernan Crespo snatched a last-gasp winner for the Blues, and are confident they can compete in 2012.

Fascinating

Martinez is expected to lead them into a meeting with the capital giants, having spent much of the summer being linked with vacant managerial posts elsewhere, and claims he cannot wait to get going.

The Spaniard, who spoke with Liverpool and has been linked with Aston Villa and Tottenham in recent months, told Wigan's official website: "Fixtures day is always one of the highlights of the calendar, and we have been handed a really exciting opening again, with the Champions League winners at the DW.

"It's going to be a fascinating start.

"It's a cliché, but every team is competitive at this level, and we need to be ready for another huge challenge over the coming months."