Super League play-off preview
Wigan go into tonight’s semi-final elimination match against Hull KR knowing that previous results are on their side.
The Warriors have won all four meeting between the sides this season, and go into the game as huge favourites, but remember, this is the play-offs, and previous form counts for nothing.
The league shield winners were beaten last weekend by Leeds at the DW Stadium meaning they now face this match in order to keep their season alive. Wigan coach Michael Maguire will need to re-think his team selection following the news that influential midfield playmaker Paul Deacon has been ruled out of the clash with a groin strain. Amos Roberts has been called in as a replacement and he could start, with Sam Tomkins taking over at stand-off and Pat Richards covering at full-back.
Maguire knows the pressure is very much on his side to bounce back, and is aware of the threat that their opponents will provide.
"This is it for us, and we don't want to find ourselves talking about what might have been in a week's time," Maguire told the club’s official website.
"It's a big game but the players have been performing under pressure all year."
Rovers are expected to name an unchanged team with Jake Webster and Liam Watts still unavailable, but confidence will be sky-high within the camp following their impressive display against Hull FC last weekend.
And whilst the pressure is very much on the shoulders of the Warriors players, Hull coach Justin Morgan believes his side can go out and relax knowing they are expected to be turned over by their illustrious opponents.
"There's no pressure on our doorstep,” Morgan told the BBC.
"They've been the most consistent team all year, the best team all year. But they weren't expecting to play this week.
"They're now travelling into new waters with a sudden death game and we'll relish that.
"They've come out at the start of the year saying that they want to win things and I like that. But I haven't hidden from the fact that I want to get to Old Trafford and I want to win the trophy too."
In the second knock-out match of the weekend Challenge Cup winners Warrington take on the Huddersfield Giants at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Saturday. Much like Wigan, Warrington have a fantastic record against this weekend’s opponents, winning their two Super League meetings this season 14-10 and 36-20.
Winger Chris Hicks is back in Wolves' squad after suffering a late withdrawal with a back injury last weekend, whilst Huddersfield are set to welcome back prop forward Keith Mason, who has completed a three-match ban.
The match throws up an interesting scenario for current Huddersfield captain Brett Hodgson, who has agreed a deal to sign for Warrington next season, but the Australian is firmly focused on getting the right result for his current side this weekend.
Hodgson told the BBC: "My priority this year has always been to do my best for the Giants, to try and get us to Old Trafford.
That's our aim and that's what I'm still putting all my efforts into.
"There is no way I'm thinking about next year, I'm thinking about doing my very best to make sure we win this weekend.
"When we played them earlier in the year we were down a bit on form and confidence. We've improved a huge amount since then and feel pretty confident.”
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