Wigan v Salford Challenge Cup semi-final preview

Wigan's Frank-Paul Nu'uausala is determined to make the Challenge Cup final

Wigan prop Frank-Paul Nu'uausala has warned his team-mates they must step up to the plate when they bid to reach Wembley this weekend.

The Warriors face Salford in the Challenge Cup semi-finals at Warrington's Halliwell Jones Stadium on Sunday (kick-off 2.30pm), aiming to reach the final for the first time since 2013.

Former Sydney Roosters and Canberra Raiders man Nu'uausala, who featured for New Zealand in the 2013 World Cup final, helped Wigan to Grand Final glory in his first season in England last year and is striving for further success.

"It's easy to come into a winning culture. The way that Wigan train; they pride themselves on what they do on and off the field," said Nu'uausala.

"They gave me the opportunity to play in these kind of games and some great players will never get the opportunity to play in the semi-final of the Challenge Cup.

Nu'uausala arrvied from the NRL and won the 2016 Super League with the Warriors in his first season

"Salford are a world-class team and so are we, so it's good to test ourselves against them.

"In the NRL, I won titles in Australia and coming to Wigan, I knew they'd have a good crack at contending for the Challenge Cup or the Super League.

"There are a lot of players in our team that have played in big games, especially in the Challenge Cup and in Grand Finals, so we've got a lot of experience that we can use this week.

"As long as we play to Wigan standard, it should be a good game."

There are two changes to Wigan's 19-man squad for the cup clash as Joel Tomkins and Liam Farrell return from groin and knee injuries respectively, in place of teenagers Callum Field and Jack Wells.

Forward Joel Tomkins returns to the Wigan squad after recovering from a groin injury

Nu'uausala could come up against his former Roosters team-mate Todd Carney, who, after struggling for game time with Salford, says he is ready to continue to deputise for injury doubt Robert Lui if required.

"I didn't expect to walk straight into the team because the players who were (here) before were doing a tremendous job and they still are," said Red Devils halfback Carney.

"Me and Watto (head coach Ian Watson) speak about it quite frequently, when I'll get an opportunity and when sometimes, I won't.

Salford's Todd Carney has expressed his happiness at a return in the team

"The last few weeks, I've had that opportunity."

The last time Wigan and Salford faced in the Challenge Cup was at the quarter-final stage in 2009, with the Warriors earning a 28-6 victory.

Whoever comes out on top on Sunday will take on Leeds or Hull, who meet in Saturday's first semi-final at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster.

Squads:

Wigan: John Bateman, Joe Burgess, Tony Clubb, Tom Davies, Liam Farrell, Anthony Gelling, Oliver Gildart, Willie Isa, Thomas Leuluai, Liam Marshall, Michael Mcilorum, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Sean O'Loughlin, Sam Powell, Ryan Sutton, Taulima Tautai, Joel Tomkins, Sam Tomkins, George Williams.

Salford: Niall Evalds, Jake Bibby, Junior Sau, Kris Welham, Greg Johnson, Todd Carney, Michael Dobson, Logan Tomkins, George Griffin, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Ryan Lannon, Robert Lui, Olsi Krasniqi, Lama Tasi, Josh Jones, Weller Hauraki, Craig Kopczak, Tyrone McCarthy, Manu Vatuvei.