Warriors v Wildcats - Teams
Wigan's Australian newcomers Mark Riddell and Amos Roberts are set to make their Super League debuts on Sunday.
Last Updated: 08/02/09 10:06am
Wigan's Australian newcomers Mark Riddell and Amos Roberts are set to make their Super League debuts on Sunday.
Former Parramatta hooker Riddell has some sizable shoes to fill with Mickey Higham being allowed to leave to join Warrington Wolves.
Trent Barrett's return to the NRL has also left a gaping void at stand-off, but Tim Smith and his half-back partner Thomas Leuluai are expected to step up in the playmaking department.
And captain Sean O'Loughlin is ready to make his comeback after missing the tail end of the season with a shoulder injury.
The Warriors recorded three wins out of three against the Wildcats last year and are closing in on the top two, as coach Brian Noble starts to develop the consistency of his side.
Loss
John Kear's Wakefield players have had to come to terms with the sudden death of number eight Adam Watene in the off-season.
Skipper Jason Demetriou has taken over Watene's shirt number and the squad is determined to pay tribute to their fallen team-mate this season.
But that hope has been made all the more difficult by significant injuries to the Wildcats that are threatening to ruin the start of their season.
Danny Brough, Danny Sculthorpe, Tevita Leo-Latu, Matt Peterson, Ryan Atkins, Aaron Murphy, Cain Southernwood and Richard Moore are all laid low.
New arrivals James Stosic and Luke Blake are the two new faces named in Wakefield's 19-man squad meanwhile, as Kear's charges look to bounce back from their disappointing end to the last campaign.
They lost 32-22 and 8-4 at the JJB Stadium last season and will want to put that right against all odds on Sunday.
Wigan's squad: Mathers, Roberts, Goulding, Carmont, Richards, Smith, Leuluai, Fielden, Riddell, Paleaaesina, Hock, Bailey, O'Loughlin, J. Tomkins, Coley, Hansen, Prescott, Phelps, O'Carroll.
Wakefield squad: Blaymire, Blanch, Martin, Rooney, Demetriou, Drew, Snitch, Wilkes, Grix, Obst , Stosic, Bibey, Henderson, Gleeson, Halley, Ferguson, Bibb, Pitts, Blake.