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Wigan v Warrington: Three key head-to-head battles

Wigan's Liam Farrell (right) clashes with Warrington's Ben Currie during the 2014 Super League play-offs

It's first v second in Super League on Friday as Warrington travel to the DW Stadium to face Wigan.

Just points difference separates the sides at the summit and the Wolves head to Wigan looking to take the outright lead.

But the Warriors will fancy their chances on home turf. Here are three key battles which could decide Friday's contest:

Liam Farrell v Ben Currie

Warrington Wolves¿' Ben Currie runs clear to score the first try of the game during the First Utility Super League match at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, W
Image: Ben Currie has scored eight tries for the Wolves in 2016

Two highly talented second rows could be on show at the DW. Liam Farrell returns to the squad after recent injury while in the Warrington ranks, 21-year-old Ben Currie is continuing to impress.

Farrell missed the Easter weekend for the Warriors but his return is much needed, especially considering John Bateman is out of Friday's game with concussion.

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And it's also an added bonus for the league's most miserly defence. Farrell is third on Wigan's tackling list with 199, missing just 12 all season.

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But it's not just in defence where Farrell is effective. He has produced some handy work in attack so far in 2016 and is fourth on Wigan's average gain list with 8.18m per drive, while he has made 12 tackle busts and gone over for two tries as well.

Liam Farrell v Ben Currie

25 Age 21
2 Tries 8
8.18m Average gain 8.67m
1 Offloads 11
199 Tackles 197

Farrell is always a threat running at players on the fringes so Warrington will have to neutralise the damage he can cause out wide to stand a good chance of winning this one.

Currie was nominated for Super League's Young Player of the Year last season and he's started 2016 in similar fashion.

A superb all-rounder, Currie has crossed eight times so far, the joint-most in his side alongside Chris Sandow and winger Tom Lineham.

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Warrington's in-form duo Jordan Cox and Ben Currie are looking to get back to winning ways against Wigan

Tries aren't the only weapon in Currie's armoury though. He's third on Warrington's metre list with 780, third on the average gain list with 8.67m and second on the offloads list with 11.

It is easy to see why Tony Smith's side have made such a flying start to 2016 with players like Currie performing at the top of their game.

Steve McNamara named the youngster in his England squad last autumn. At this rate, Currie will be nailed on for Wayne Bennett's side come the end of the season as well. 

Oliver Gildart v Ryan Atkins

First Utility Super League - Hull FC v Warrington Wolves - KC Stadium, Kingston upon Hull, England - Warrington's Ryan Atkins scores a try against Hull FC.
Image: Ryan Atkins scores a try against Hull FC on Easter Monday

Keep an eye on the centres come Friday. With Anthony Gelling injured, Jack Higginson could make his Super League debut for Wigan. 

But barring any late injury, one man who'll definitely start in the cherry and white will be Gildart.

In the week Wigan have lost two English players in Dan Sarginson and Josh Charnley to the NRL and rugby union, it is worth remembering the talented crop of young players that keep coming through the club's ranks.

Gildart certainly qualifies in that regard. The 19-year-old started last year's Grand Final and has made the centre spot his own this year.

Oliver Gildart v Ryan Atkins

19 Age 30
4 Tries 5
1 Try assists 3
2 Offloads 9
558 Metres 605
8.45m Average gain 9.45pm

It is easy to see why Shaun Wane has faith in him. With four tries, he is third on Wigan's charts, while he also rates highly for tackle busts (26) and clean breaks (4). And he's pretty handy at making ground too, ranking second on Wigan's average gain list with 8.45m per carry.

Should Gildart keep racking up numbers like that, it's likely he'll be a fixture of this side for many years to come. 

Wigan's Oliver Gildart scores the first of his two first-half tries against Salford
Image: Oliver Gildart is averaging 8.45m per carry this season

While Gildart may still be learning his trade, Warrington have a man in their centres with plenty of Super League experience. It's been an up and down few seasons for Atkins but the England international seems to be flourishing again in a Warrington side scoring points for fun.

He has got five tries in 2016 but Atkins is also playing provider as well, setting up three scores for his teammates. His offloading is a dangerous weapon out wide too; indeed Atkins has got the ball out of the tackle on nine occasions this season.

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That threat with ball-in-hand is never in doubt, especially with an average gain of 9.45m a run, the second best in the Warrington side. So with the Wolves playing free-flowing, entertaining rugby league, expect Atkins to pop up with a few magical moments out on those flanks. 

Matty Smith v Chris Sandow

Wigan Warriors half-back Matty Smith
Image: Matty Smith guided Wigan to victory over St Helens on Good Friday

With Kurt Gidley an injury doubt for Warrington and George Williams still missing for Wigan, the pressure once again falls on the two scrum-halves to perform. 

We picked out Smith as a key man against St Helens on Good Friday and he guided his side to a derby victory with a try and four goals against his old club. Wigan's attack functioned well over the Easter period, racking up 54 points in both their wins, an improvement on their early-season form.

Smith's score against Saints was his first of the season but there's no doubting who the go-to man is when it comes to fifth tackle time. Smith has put in 34 attacking kicks, 26 more than any other team-mate.

Matty Smith v Chris Sandow

28 Age 27
1 Tries 8
2 Try assists 12
1 Clean breaks 9
34 Attacking kicks 38
19 Goals 6

To keep the Warriors moving round the park, and to pose a danger when attacking on that last tackle, Wigan need Smith firing on all cylinders against the Wolves. 

The man wearing seven on the opposite side of the scrum has been one of Super League's best players so far this season. Sandow made a difficult start to life in England after joining midway through the last campaign but after a full pre-season, he has been on fire in 2016.

Warrington Wolves v Widnes Vikings - Halliwell Jones Stadium - Warrington's Chris Sandow tackled by Widnes's Lloyd White
Image: Chris Sandow has been one of Super League's star performers in 2016

Eight tries is the joint most in the Wolves ranks, while he's also conjured up 12 assists, the joint-best in Super League so far. Sandow also leads the way in the Warrington side in terms of clean breaks (9) and attacking kicks (38), proving he is the general in the Primrose and Blue ranks.

His astonishing drop goal winner against Salford is one of the highlights of the campaign so far and once regular half-back partner Kurt Gidley returns to the side, Warrington pose a serious threat from the No 6 and No 7 positions. 

Watch Wigan v Warrington live on Sky Sports 2 HD on Friday from 7.30pm. Catch the match for £6.99 on NOW TV. No contract. 

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