Shaun Wane’s Wigan Warriors will look to make it six wins on the bounce as they host 8th-placed Salford. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the clash.
SQUAD NEWS
Wigan Warriors
Winger Joe Burgess has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after sustaining an injury in Wigan’s win against Widnes last week.
Sam Tomkins returns for the Cherry and Whites, alongside forwards Ben Flower and John Bateman.
Wigan will aim to make it six in a row, after recent successes over Widnes, Castleford and Leeds. They currently sit two-points behind table toppers St Helens with a game in hand.
Wigan Warriors 19-man squad: John Bateman, Tony Clubb, Tom Davies, Morgan Escaré, Ben Flower, Oliver Gildart, Gabe Hamlin, Willie Isa, Tommy Leuluai, Liam Marshall, Romain Navarrete, Sean O’Loughlin, Sam Powell, Dan Sarginson, Ryan Sutton, Taulima Tautai, Joel Tomkins, Sam Tomkins, George Williams
Salford Red Devils
Levy Nzoungou and Gavin Bennion could make their debuts for the Devils this Friday as they return from Championship side Swinton Lions after some impressive displays.
Club Captain Weller Hauraki also returns to the 19-man squad, whilst Robert Lui is still sidelined with an injury.
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Logan Tomkins will face his old club- as well as older brothers Joel and Sam- on Friday night at the DW, and comes into the game with the most tackles this season out of any Red Devils player.
Ian Watson’s side will be looking to bounce back from their 60-10 loss to St Helens at home last Thursday, with three wins in six.
Salford Red Devils 19-man squad: Greg Johnson, Kris Welham, Junior Sa’u, Jack Littlejohn, Craig Kopczak, Logan Tomkins, Weller Hauraki, Lama Tasi, Ryan Lannon, Luke Burgess, Tyrone McCarthy, Ben Nakubuwai, Josh Wood, Darrell Olpherts, Jake Bibby, Levy Nzoungou, Daniel Murray, Gavin Bennion, Jake Shorrocks.
HEAD TO HEAD
Salford’s last victory at the DW ended a 20-year wait for an away win, as Ian Watson’s side defeated the Warriors 31-16 last year.
However, Wigan have come away victorious on the previous three meetings, once in the Super 8s, once in the Challenge Cup and in the opening round of the 2018 campaign.
The teams have never drawn before, with Wigan claiming 37 wins and Salford winning just six times.
KEY BATTLE- Liam Marshall v Jake Bibby
Both these young wingers have made scoring their norm in 2018, both leading the try-scoring tally for their sides (seven and nine retrospectively).
With the injury of Joe Burgess, Liam Marshall will once again have the opportunity to claim the spot on the wing for Wigan and make it his own.
Bibby, on the other hand, has the highest number of clean breaks for the away side, and will search to continue his impressive form.
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
Date: Friday, May 4
Venue: DW Stadium
Kick-off: 8:00pm
Referee: C. Kendall
WHO WILL WIN?
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