But Chimbonda may have to settle for a spot on the bench, with manager Paul Jewell set to name an unchanged side.
Centre-back Ibrahima Sonko will miss Reading's trip through suspension following his sending off at Aston Villa in midweek.
Brynjar Gunnarsson is expected to pip summer signing Sam Sodje for a place in the starting line-up while Sonko serves a one-match ban.
Striker Dave Kitson remains sidelined by a knee injury but winger Glen Little should claim a place on the bench after shrugging off a hamstring problem.
Wigan Athletic (from): Kirkland, Boyce, Chimbonda, Hall, De Zeeuw, Baines, Valencia, Landzaat, Scharner, McCulloch, Heskey, Camara, Kavanagh, Connolly, Pollitt, Jackson, Wright.
Reading (from): Hahnemann, Stack, Murty, Halls, Ingimarsson, Gunnarsson, Sodje, Shorey, Seol, Little, Sidwell, Harper, Hunt, Convey, Oster, Lita, Doyle, Long, Cox.