Liam Marshall back for Wigan as Saints welcome back key forward pair

Wigan have been boosted by the return of winger Liam Marshall against a St Helens side who welcome back two key forwards.

England Knights international Marshall missed Wigan’s win over Leigh last week with a foot injury, but he is back in Matt Peet’s side this week.

Another player returning for Wigan is experienced prop Brad Singleton. The duo replace the injured Jai Field and suspended Willie Isa.

Iain Thornley, who was recalled from his loan at Barrow, is 18th man for the Warriors this afternoon.

Meanwhile, St Helens coach Paul Wellens has made two changes to his side that thrashed Wakefield last time out.

England prop Alex Walmsley is ruled out after suffering a hamstring injury last week, with young forward Sam Royle dropping out.

But the world champions welcome back Tongan powerhouse Agnatius Paasi and former Samoa international Sione Mata’utia.

Young Saints forward George Delaney keeps his spot on the bench after impressing last week against Wakefield.

Jon Bennison, a winger or full-back by trade, is the 18th man for Saints this afternoon.

PODCAST: Liam Marshall on almost giving up on rugby league, England hopes & Peet’s Wigan transformation

The 17-man squads

Wigan: French; Miski, King, Wardle, Marshall; Shorrocks, Smith; Byrne, Powell, Cooper, Pearce-Paul, Farrell, Smithies. Subs: Singleton, Ellis, Havard, O’Neill. 18th man: Thornley.

St Helens: Welsby; Makinson, Hurrell, Percival, Hopoate; Lomax, Dodd; Paasi, Roby, Lees, Mata’utia, Sironen, Knowles. Subs: Lussick, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Bell, Delaney. 18th man: Bennison.

More than 24,000 tickets have been sold for the Good Friday derby, which is the first one back at Wigan’s DW Stadium since 2019.

Wigan are currently third in the Super League table, having won five out of their first seven games of the season. The Warriors head into the game in good form, having beaten the likes of Leigh and Salford in recent weeks.

St Helens, meanwhile, enjoyed a dominant 38-0 victory over Wakefield last week. Paul Wellens’ side are fifth in the Super League table, with a game in hand on most teams in the competition.

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