Wigan Warriors and St Helens will round off Super League Magic Weekend with the two rivals going at it in the final game on Sunday, but both will be without plenty of their key players.
It marks the third meeting between this sides this year with the scores level at one a piece so far, Saints having won in dramatic fashion on Good Friday before Wigan laid down a marker in the Challenge Cup semi-final.
Those two games have already produced plenty of talking points, not least the questioning of St Helens’ identity by Wigan Warriors head coach Matt Peet, as he jibed at Saints after the Challenge Cup win.
Peet’s comments questioned Saints having loaned in Bill Leyland rather than promoting youth on Good Friday, with Leyland ultimately proving the game-winner as he scored two of Saints’ four tries in a late collapse by the Warriors.
Saints may well wish they could loan in Leyland or others this week, such is their injury list, and we’ve taken a look at which players each side will be without, as well as those whose involvement remains in doubt.
Wigan Warriors team news
Wigan’s big issues heading into the derby will be in their pack as they sustained two fresh injuries this past weekend, having already been without three of their pack.
Sam Walters remains suspended after the Challenge Cup Final, whilst Oliver Wilson is still recovering from the ACL injury that ended his season before it began. Ethan Havard suffered a broken jaw two weeks ago against Wakefield and whilst it’s expected he will miss out, no definitive recovery timeline has been set.
The latest pack blows came to veterans Luke Thompson and Liam Farrell with the former seen in a protective boot at the end of the game after suffering a foot injury, whilst captain Farrell also left early with a shoulder issue.
Others who will miss out are wingers Liam Marshall, Dayon Sambou and Abbas Miski with the first two injured, whilst Miski has been ruled out for the year on account of the salary cap.
Outs – Liam Marshall (hamstring), Sam Walters (suspended), Abbas Miski (salary cap), Oliver Wilson (ACL), Dayon Sambou (knee)
Doubts – Ethan Havard (fractured jaw), Luke Thompson (foot), Liam Farrell (shoulder)
St Helens team news
For Saints, the majority of their injury issues are definite with their only hope being that Daryl Clark is fit after having a week off on account of knocks.
He’s the only doubt but the list of those who are out is nine-strong with the most recent additions being Mark Percival (hamstring), George Whitby (knee) and Matt Whitley (wrist), the latter of whom is done for the season.
Others who are done for the season include Deon Cross, Matty Lees, Jake Wingfield and Noah Stephens, with Lewis Murphy likely the closes to a return, albeit around three weeks away.
Outs – Mark Percival (hamstring), Deon Cross (bicep), Jonny Lomax (fractured jaw), Matty Lees (knee), Matt Whitley (wrist), George Whitby (knee), Jake Wingfield (ACL), Lewis Murphy (elbow), Noah Stephens (nerve damage),
Doubts – Daryl Clark (knock)
