The Qualifiers: Halifax v Widnes (Sun)

Two teams that lost their opening games in The Qualifiers face each other at The Shay on Sunday.

Super League side Widnes travel to Halifax on the back of five successive losses and in desperate need to get a win under their belts.

Their coach, Denis Betts, has been able to name an unchanged 19-man squad for the first time this season, with Danny Craven having shaken off a calf niggle. He stepped up in last minute to play the full 80 minutes against Warrington after Rangi Chase was suspended following a positive drugs test.

Centre Charly Runciman returns to the ground where he made his Vikings debut, scoring two tries when Widnes won 14-0 when these two sides met in The Qualifiers two years ago.

Halifax were unlucky not to win their opening game at Hull KR last week, with winger Ben Heaton scoring four tries.

Their preparations have been boosted by the news that full-back Will Sharp has signed a new deal.

They are, however, without forward Ryan Boyle who was handed a one-match ban by the RFL disciplinary panel this week

Squads:

Halifax: Barber, Cahalane, Douglas, Fairbank, Grady, Grix, Heaton, Johnston, Kaye, Mammone, Moore, Morris, Murrell, Saltonstall, Sharp, Sio, Tyrer, Woodburn-Hall, Worrincy.

Widnes: Bridge, Buchanan, Cahill, Chapelhow, Craven, Dudson, Hanbury, Houston, Johnstone, Manuokafoa, Marsh, Mellor, Olbison, Runciman, Thompson, Walker, White, Whitley.

Prediction:

Widnes to prevail but not after a real scare – Vikings by 8.