STEPHEN HUNT has told of the secret inspiration behind Readings top-flight survival bid the Super Mario Bros.

The midfielder says the struggling Royals take out their frustrations on Nintendos famous Mario Kart game to avoid coming to blows over their relegation woes.

And he hopes the make-believe plumbing duo can help Reading edge a step closer to victory in the race to beat the drop at Wigan today.

Ireland star Hunt, 26, said: The banter has been flying and if all else fails we will have Mario Kart on the journey up to Wigan.

There are always rows when that happens but it takes our minds off the relegation battle.

The next three games are massive but this game really is make or break. A point will do us and we are looking to go to Wigan and put in a good performance.

Boss Steve Coppell has challenged Leroy Lita to prove he has shaken off his bad-boy image by firing Reading to safety.

Lita, 23, goes in search of his first Premier League goal in 15 months after being recalled from his loan spell at Charlton.

Team mentality

Coppell shipped out the England Under-21 striker, 23, after losing patience following a string of off-field problems, including two nightclub fights.

And the gaffer said: Leroy has been recalled because the other strikers I have here have not been scoring goals.

He is a different trainer to the one who went away on loan. There is a visible change in his mentality.

I have been speaking regularly to Alan Pardew and the reports Ive had on Leroy have been positive. The past is the past. He has got the bit between his teeth. He will play at Wigan and all that matters now is that Reading FC are in the Premier League next season.

Wigan boss Steve Bruce had to call a halt to the Latics training session ahead of todays clash to prevent his fired-up players injuring themselves.

Bruce stepped in several times to cool things down as the tackles flew in and he eventually decided enough was enough.

Victory at the JJB today would guarantee Wigans own survival. And Bruce said it was obvious how high the stakes were, as his players went at each other on the training pitch.

He said: The players dont have to be told how much this match means. They know. There was a real crackle about them in training this week and the only thing I had to remind them about was to take it easy with each other

The emotion was there for everybody to see. They were firing into each other so much so I had to call a halt to it a bit early.

You can always tell when there is a big game around the corner. Training becomes that little bit more competitive, just as you would want it. They get the studs in and the rest of it.

But you cant let it go too far, which is why I sent them for an early shower!

Wigan are almost safe, thanks to a six-match unbeaten home run that has seen them pick up 14 priceless points.

Bruce added: Weve given ourselves a great chance and to be in this position is great.

Now we need one final push. Our home form has been terrific of late. Lets hope we can take it into this game and put it to bed. If we can do that with a couple of games to go, it will be fantastic.