Preview: Widnes v Halifax

Widnes Vikings coach Denis Betts could have Joe Mellor, a third dual-registration signing from Wigan, available for selection.

Dom Crosby and Logan Tomkins have also recently agreed similar deals with the Vikings.

However, four players who won’t be featuring are Anthony Thackeray, Kirk Netherton, James Ford and Chris Gerrard after the quartet were told this week that they are no longer part of Betts’ first team plans.

Betts is now hoping that the Easter period can help give the Vikings some much-needed momentum.

He said: “We’re playing sides below us (Halifax, then Barrow on Monday) that are pretty desperate. They’re searching for their own confidence, but with a bit of luck we could maybe get some momentum.”

Halifax’s Sam Barlow (foot) and Ben Black (knee) face fitness tests before coach Matt Calland finalises his squad.

Fax are second bottom of the Co-operative Championship, having climbed above York on points difference with the bonus point earned in last week’s 32-22 defeat against Leigh.

However, Calland said: “I didn’t think we were far off. It’s a fine line between winning and losing.”

He added: “We need a win now. We’re none from four, but if we build a bit more pressure and finish our chances off then we’ll go a long way towards winning.”