Team news: Championship big-hitters go head to head

Championship favourites Toronto Wolfpack take on relegated Widnes in their first “home” game of the season on Saturday evening, with the game played at Kingston Park in Newcastle.

The game is live on Sky Sports and forms part of a double-header, taking place after the League One season kicks off with Newcastle Thunder’s game against Doncaster.

Both sides have won their two Championship games so far – Toronto away at York and Rochdale, while Widnes have picked up wins against Halifax and in Toulouse.

Widnes welcome back Jay Chapelhow from injury, while Jon Wilkin is included by the Wolfpack – the ban handed down to him by the RFL disciplinary this week only comes in to force from next week.

Toronto won the only previous meeting between the two sides, in The Qualifiers last season.

The third round of the Championship season got underway on Friday night as Sheffield made it three wins out of three, beating Bradford 24-10.

Toronto 19-man squad: O’Brien, Russell, Stanley, Leutele, Mellor, McCrone, Sidlow, Sims, Dixon, Thompson, Wilkin, Ackers, Lussick, Olbison, Wallace, Springer, Wheeler, Higson, Emmitt.

Widnes 19-man squad: Ashall-Bott, Brand, Buckley, J Chapelhow, T Chapelhow, Craven, Dean, Farnworth, Gelling, Hansen, Hood, Ince, Johnstone, Leuluai, Lyons, Owens, Tangata, Walker, Wilde.

Toronto are 4/11 favourites, with Widnes 9/4 to maintain their 100% record under Kieron Purtill.