Predicted Wigan Warriors line-up v Leeds Rhinos amid Jai Field doubt

Wigan Warriors boss Matt Peet dropped a surprise earlier this week when he included Jai Field in his 21-man squad to face Leeds Rhinos on Saturday. Field limped out of last weekend’s Challenge Cup clash with Hull FC with a hamstring issue and although Peet was unable to provide an update on his situation earlier this week, the expectation was that he would miss this week’s game.

Of course, Field’s inclusion is by no means confirmation of his fitness, but it certainly suggests that he could be involved at Headingley as Wigan look to claim their fourth Super League win on the bounce. The full-back’s availability would obviously come as a huge boost and Peet will be keen to have the Australian involved against the Rhinos.

He’ll have a contingency plan if he’s not, though, with Zach Eckersley and Bevan French the most obvious players to drop back and take on the number one role.

We’re going to assume the full-back is fit, though, and he starts in our predicted line-up. Abbas Miski also gets the nod on the wing after missing the two games Wigan have played since returning from Las Vegas.

Eckersley starts at centre after seeing Adam Keighran ruled out for the next couple of months with a knee injury, with Jake Wardle and Liam Marshall partnering up on the other flank, as per usual.

In fact, with Keighran being the only man to drop out, it’s fair to predict that the rest of the starting line-up will be the same as last week’s. That means Liam Byrne gets the nod to start in the front row alongside Luke Thompson while Kaide Ellis plays at loose-forward after passing a HIA last week.

Sam Walters could feature off the bench against his old club, while Tyler Dupree, Patrick Mago and Tom Forber will likely be the other three substitutes with Peet being consistent in his team selection.

Predicted Wigan Warriors line-up: Jai Field; Abbas Miski, Zach Eckersley, Jake Wardle, Liam Marshall; Bevan French, Harry Smith; Liam Byrne, Kruise Leeming, Luke Thompson, Junior Nsemba, Liam Farrell, Kaide Ellis.

Bench: Tyler Dupree, Patrick Mago, Sam Walters, Tom Forber.