In a change from the usual weekly rounds, Wigan play host to Widnes tonight in their game in hand that has been rearranged from round two due to Wigan's participation in the World Club Challenge.
Widnes have had a mixed season so far with the Vikings in the last four of the Challenge cup against Wigan's conquerors Castleford but sitting only eighth in the league know they need to hit good form in order to keep up their play off hopes.
Wigan despite being out of the Cup sit third in the table and with the potential to go top of the ladder with a win tonight something that would silence the doubters who said Wigan would struggle this season and to be in such a good position after a tiring and poor start would be amazing.
As this is a rearranged game, it is the first time the sides have met this season in terms of previous meetings with the last league meeting at the DW seeing Wigan crush the Vikings in a 62-4 win but the last meeting took place in last year's Challenge Cup quarter-finals but sadly for Widnes another heavy defeat of 48-4.
Both sides come into the game on the back of very different results in round 16 with Wigan gaining revenge against Castleford in a 46-6 win while Widnes were demolished 6-56 by a superb performance by Hull.
Due to short turnarounds, both sides have made changes with Wigan including academy products Callum Wright and Connor Farrell with Connor set to make his debut alongside brother Liam continuing on from the famous Tomkins trio and Iro brothers
Josh Charnley returns after two months out allowing Joe Burgess to join up with the England training squad with Dan Sarginson moving to full back in the absence of Matt Bowen and Ryan Hampshire.
Widnes move Jack Owens to full-back in the absence of Rhys Hanbury, with former Bradford winger Patrick Ah Van recalled for only his third appearance of an injury-hit season while Cameron Phelps has been fast-tracked into the side following the loss of both Chris Dean and Stefan Marsh.
Wigan: Bateman, Burke, Charnley, Crosby, Dudson, C. Farrell, L. Farrell, Flower, Gelling, Goulding, James, Manfredi, McIlorum, O'Loughlin, S. Powell, Sarginson, Smith, Taylor, Wright.
Widnes: Ah Van, Allen, Brown, Cahill, Clarke, Clough, Craven, Galea, Gerrard, Gore, Flynn, Isa, Kavanagh, Lawton, Leuluai, Owens, Phelps, Tickle, White.
I anticipate a closer score then the previous meeting but for Wigan to carry their form on to a win so Wigan 36 Widnes 18.
Widnes have had a mixed season so far with the Vikings in the last four of the Challenge cup against Wigan's conquerors Castleford but sitting only eighth in the league know they need to hit good form in order to keep up their play off hopes.
Wigan despite being out of the Cup sit third in the table and with the potential to go top of the ladder with a win tonight something that would silence the doubters who said Wigan would struggle this season and to be in such a good position after a tiring and poor start would be amazing.
As this is a rearranged game, it is the first time the sides have met this season in terms of previous meetings with the last league meeting at the DW seeing Wigan crush the Vikings in a 62-4 win but the last meeting took place in last year's Challenge Cup quarter-finals but sadly for Widnes another heavy defeat of 48-4.
Both sides come into the game on the back of very different results in round 16 with Wigan gaining revenge against Castleford in a 46-6 win while Widnes were demolished 6-56 by a superb performance by Hull.
Due to short turnarounds, both sides have made changes with Wigan including academy products Callum Wright and Connor Farrell with Connor set to make his debut alongside brother Liam continuing on from the famous Tomkins trio and Iro brothers
Josh Charnley returns after two months out allowing Joe Burgess to join up with the England training squad with Dan Sarginson moving to full back in the absence of Matt Bowen and Ryan Hampshire.
Widnes move Jack Owens to full-back in the absence of Rhys Hanbury, with former Bradford winger Patrick Ah Van recalled for only his third appearance of an injury-hit season while Cameron Phelps has been fast-tracked into the side following the loss of both Chris Dean and Stefan Marsh.
Wigan: Bateman, Burke, Charnley, Crosby, Dudson, C. Farrell, L. Farrell, Flower, Gelling, Goulding, James, Manfredi, McIlorum, O'Loughlin, S. Powell, Sarginson, Smith, Taylor, Wright.
Widnes: Ah Van, Allen, Brown, Cahill, Clarke, Clough, Craven, Galea, Gerrard, Gore, Flynn, Isa, Kavanagh, Lawton, Leuluai, Owens, Phelps, Tickle, White.
I anticipate a closer score then the previous meeting but for Wigan to carry their form on to a win so Wigan 36 Widnes 18.
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