Super League preview: Warrington v Wigan

Warrington get their first chance of revenge for last season’s Grand Final defeat, when they face Wigan at the Halliwell Jones.

The Wolves have won their last three Super League matches and head coach Tony Smith names an unchanged 19-man squad.

Meanwhile, the Warriors are missing two of their key players as they look for their third win of the season.

Captain Sean O’Loughlin is absent with a shoulder problem, whilst hooker Michael McIlorum, who scored in last October’s Old Trafford showpiece, serves the second game of a three-match suspension.

Wigan boss Shaun Wane thinks the game has the makings of yet another classic between the two sides.

“They’re in a transition period, like us, and their form has not been the best at the start of the year, but I watched them at Salford and they were very good,” said Wane.

“These are the games we need to perform in, with the way they play, with fast play the balls, they can put you on the back foot.

“All 17 players selected need to have one of their best games, and that is the pressure of playing in these top encounters.”

Warrington

Squad: Asotasi, Atkins, Bridge, B. Evans, R. Evans, Grix, Higham, Hill, Laithwaite, J. Monaghan, M. Monaghan, Myler, O’Brien, Ormsby, Ratchford, Riley, Russell, Waterhouse, Westwood.

Last match: Won 28-12 away at Salford

Wigan

Squad: Bateman, Bowen, Burgess, Charnley, Clubb, Crosby, Farrell, Flower, Gelling, Goulding, Green, Hughes, James, Pettybourne, Smith, Taylor, Thornley, Tomkins, Williams.

Last match: Won 34-20 at home to Hull KR