But were they to beat Alan Pardew's side by a lesser margin, they'd then be hoping for one of the sides above them to drop points.
And they will again have to manage without record signing Jason Roberts who serves the second of a two-match suspension.
And Latics have yet to win any of the four games the striker has missed since joining the club in January.
Jewell said: "The game at Nottingham Forest last Saturday was the fourth we've played without Jason and haven't won.
"That's disappointing and we have to be better as a group of players that we don't get these suspensions and miss vital games.
"Looking at the team, the strikers have scored the majority of the goals and things are too thinly spread after that.
"The central midfielders players have scored three league goals between them, while our big centre-backs go up for corners yet have managed only a couple.
"We have to be more clinical in front of goal, something we haven't been in the big games this season."
Jewell opted to pair Nathan Ellington and Lee McCulloch together at Forest, Neil Roberts replacing McCulloch for the final quarter of an hour.
But none of the trio could find a way to goal at the City Ground and Jewell may look at a different option on Sunday afternoon.
He could decide to hand Andy Liddell a central striking role alongside Ellington despite him playing much of his football this season on the right-wing.
While Roberts watches from the stand, at least Latics can call on the services of Jason Jarrett against the Hammers.
He missed the Forest game because of a one-match suspension and will compete with Gareth Farrelly for a starting berth.
Jewell is pleased to have him back, with the squad having been down to its bare bones on Saturday.
He said: "We had 17 players fit at Forest yet people still go on about big-spending Wigan.
"I would think we have the smallest squad in the First Division by a million miles, something I'm not complaining about, but people need to know the facts."
Matt Jackson and Mike Flynn are long term absentees while Tony Dinning took a knock in a reserve game last week.
Source: Wigan Evening Post.
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