Heskey (hamstring) and Bent (cut leg) both went off injured in last week's 1-1 draw against Tottenham but are fit to play this weekend, when victory will secure survival for the Latics.
On-loan defender Erik Hagen is available again following illness, so Erik Edman is Wigan's only absentee after being ruled out for the season with a long-term knee injury.
Reading winger Jimmy Kebe is a doubt after picking up a knock during last week's defeat at Arsenal.
Utility man Brynjar Gunnarsson has already been ruled out of the JJB Stadium clash after suffering a setback in his recovery from a groin operation.
Defender Nicky Shorey and winger Stephen Hunt are expected to be recalled after not even making the bench last week and striker Leroy Lita is back in contention following a loan spell at Charlton.
Teams:
Wigan (from): Kirkland, Melchiot, Scharner, Boyce, Kilbane, Valencia, Brown, Palacios, Taylor, Bent, Heskey, Koumas, Skoko, King, Sibierski, Pollitt, Aghahowa, Bramble, Figueroa, Hagen, Olembe.
Reading (from): Hahnemann, Federici, Murty, de la Cruz, Sonko, Bikey, Ingimarsson, Duberry, Shorey, Rosenior, Doyle, Oster, Little, Harper, Cisse, Matejovsky, Fae, Hunt, Convey, Kitson, Lita, Long.
Sporting Life.