The striker, currently on a month's loan from Southampton, played in yesterday's Reserve team clash against Preston in a bid to regain maximum fitness.
And Latics manager Paul Jewell hopes the voluntary work-out will pay dividends in the three-horse race for automatic promotion.
Ormerod arrived at the club just under a fortnight ago in time for a second-half substitute's role in the 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest.
But the international break over Easter has seen him kicking his heels since, and he requested the run-out in the Reserves when the squad returned to training earlier in the week.
Jewell said: "I had a chat with Brett and he wanted to play yesterday's game.
"The lad needed a run-about as even when he came on against Forest the other week he was blowing a bit by the end.
"We need him to be on top of his fitness, and remember he hasn't played a lot of football in the last year or so."
Ormerod played the full 90 minutes at Bamber Bridge's Irongate ground, hitting the post with a first-half shot.
The Pontin's Premier League game ended in a 1-1 draw, David Graham levelling with a shot from six yards in the 80th minute after Iain Howard had given Preston the lead on the hour.
Latics sent an experienced side up the M6, Matt Jackson, Andreas Johansson, Steve McMillan, Gareth Whalley and Jason Jarrett all playing.
Alan Mahon also returned to action after more than a month out with a knee injury and showed no signs of rust to play the whole game.
The Irishman is now set to be included in the first-team squad for Saturday's big clash with West Ham at the JJB Stadium, although he is likely to have to make do with a seat on the bench.
Assessing yesterday's work-out, Jewell said: "These Reserve games aren't about results, they're about getting one or two kids through and giving the lads who have missed a bit of football a run-out.
"Sometimes a game in the Reserves can give players just as much benefit as a few training sessions."
Meanwhile, Jewell has joined in the plaudits for Lee McCulloch who made his first start for Scotland in their Easter Saturday defeat to Italy at the San Siro.
It was the Latics midfielder's second cap following a brief substitute's appearance last year and his manager believes there could be more call-ups to follow.
Jewell said: "Lee has come back looking like an international player so Walter Smith must be very good at his job!
"It was good experience for him and it's a credit to himself and this club that he played at the San Siro against Italy.
"I think this shows that we have some very good footballers here at Wigan."
While McCulloch was back training with Latics yesterday, the club's other two internationals won't be back in the fold until tomorrow's session.
Graham Kavanagh played for the Republic of Ireland against China last night while Leighton Baines has been with the England Under-21 squad.
Left-back Baines didn't feature in Peter Taylor's side, though, because of a slight knee injury.
Jewell said: "Bainesy has been feeling his knee a little bit so a decision was taken not to risk him. He should be okay for Saturday but at this stage of the season and bearing in mind our situation, it wasn't worth taking a chance.
"Peter Taylor is in a similar position to us at Hull in League One and has been very sensible about it."
l Latics are keen to stress the next two home games against West Ham and Sunderland are all-ticket. The Hammers have sold in the region of 3,000 tickets while Sunderland will be backed by 7,400 fans on Tuesday.
And Latics manager Paul Jewell hopes the voluntary work-out will pay dividends in the three-horse race for automatic promotion.
Ormerod arrived at the club just under a fortnight ago in time for a second-half substitute's role in the 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest.
But the international break over Easter has seen him kicking his heels since, and he requested the run-out in the Reserves when the squad returned to training earlier in the week.
Jewell said: "I had a chat with Brett and he wanted to play yesterday's game.
"The lad needed a run-about as even when he came on against Forest the other week he was blowing a bit by the end.
"We need him to be on top of his fitness, and remember he hasn't played a lot of football in the last year or so."
Ormerod played the full 90 minutes at Bamber Bridge's Irongate ground, hitting the post with a first-half shot.
The Pontin's Premier League game ended in a 1-1 draw, David Graham levelling with a shot from six yards in the 80th minute after Iain Howard had given Preston the lead on the hour.
Latics sent an experienced side up the M6, Matt Jackson, Andreas Johansson, Steve McMillan, Gareth Whalley and Jason Jarrett all playing.
Alan Mahon also returned to action after more than a month out with a knee injury and showed no signs of rust to play the whole game.
The Irishman is now set to be included in the first-team squad for Saturday's big clash with West Ham at the JJB Stadium, although he is likely to have to make do with a seat on the bench.
Assessing yesterday's work-out, Jewell said: "These Reserve games aren't about results, they're about getting one or two kids through and giving the lads who have missed a bit of football a run-out.
"Sometimes a game in the Reserves can give players just as much benefit as a few training sessions."
Meanwhile, Jewell has joined in the plaudits for Lee McCulloch who made his first start for Scotland in their Easter Saturday defeat to Italy at the San Siro.
It was the Latics midfielder's second cap following a brief substitute's appearance last year and his manager believes there could be more call-ups to follow.
Jewell said: "Lee has come back looking like an international player so Walter Smith must be very good at his job!
"It was good experience for him and it's a credit to himself and this club that he played at the San Siro against Italy.
"I think this shows that we have some very good footballers here at Wigan."
While McCulloch was back training with Latics yesterday, the club's other two internationals won't be back in the fold until tomorrow's session.
Graham Kavanagh played for the Republic of Ireland against China last night while Leighton Baines has been with the England Under-21 squad.
Left-back Baines didn't feature in Peter Taylor's side, though, because of a slight knee injury.
Jewell said: "Bainesy has been feeling his knee a little bit so a decision was taken not to risk him. He should be okay for Saturday but at this stage of the season and bearing in mind our situation, it wasn't worth taking a chance.
"Peter Taylor is in a similar position to us at Hull in League One and has been very sensible about it."
l Latics are keen to stress the next two home games against West Ham and Sunderland are all-ticket. The Hammers have sold in the region of 3,000 tickets while Sunderland will be backed by 7,400 fans on Tuesday.