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Ellington said: "I expect it to be the usual hostile environment.
Rovers fans always gave ex-Bristol City players a hard time so I am sure I will get the same on Friday."
And the Duke will have the painful memory of one of the lowest points of his career to spur him on. In January of last year Ellington faced City at Ashton Gate in the area semi-finals of the LDV Vans Trophy.
The match in front of a 17,000 plus capacity crowd was played just four days after Ellington's hat-trick had inspired Rovers to a 3-1 win over Premiership side Derby County in probably the biggest shock of last season's FA Cup.
There was high anticipation of a classic derby contest but the Rovers side that effectively terminated Colin Todd's spell as Derby manager did not turn up.
Instead Garry Thompson's men reverted to type and City, thanks to a Lee Matthews brace, won comfortably by three goals to nil.
That game was the fifth time Ellington had faced City and it was the fifth time he had failed to score.
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"They had somebody (Danny Coles) sent off for fouling me and we won 2-0, " said Ellington.
"I didn't score but it doesn't matter to me as long as we win although if I do score it will be another bonus."
Ellington has 17 goals to his name this term, but Wigan haven't had to rely too much on their star signing.
Goalkeeper John Filan recently set a new record of seven straight clean sheets in the league - indeed Wigan have conceded just four goals away from home all season.
Ellington said: "We have shut out a lot of teams and that is credit to the defence and the whole team because we defend from the front."
And the ex-Pirate admits that he still looks out for Rovers' results.
"It's hard to see them being so close to the bottom of the league but I am sure they will be able to scrape their way out of it somehow - I certainly hope they do, " he said.
Article from the Bristol Western Press.