Super League: Salford Red Devils v Widnes Vikings preview
Last Updated: 11/09/14 7:52pm
Widnes Vikings will aim to keep building momentum ahead of their first appearance in the playoffs with a trip to Salford Red Devils in the final round of Super League regular season action.
The Vikings travel to the AJ Bell Stadium on Friday knowing their place in the knockout stages is secure and coach Denis Betts will be eager to build on their sequence of back-to-back victories.
After beating reigning champions Wigan Warriors at the Select Security Stadium, Widnes travelled to face relegated Bradford Bulls and earned a 32-12 victory as they secured eighth place in the standings.
It is the first time the Vikings have made the playoff stages and a third successive win on Friday would give Widnes added momentum as coach Betts continues to aim high.
“It’s a fantastic feeling knowing that we have achieved what we set out to achieve at the start of the season,” Betts told the club’s official website.
“We want to achieve better though and we’ll keep working hard to improve.
“At the start of the season some, externally, tipped us to be in or around the bottom two or three but to grow as a team, a team that’s not had massive changes to it and finish this strong is a credit to the group.”
Redress the balance
Widnes have won the last four meetings between the pair, including three this season, and Red Devils coach Iestyn Harris is eager to redress the balance.
“Remarkably, this will be our fourth encounter with the Vikings, having played against them in both the Magic Weekend and the Challenge Cup,” Harris reflected no the club’s official website.
“With Widnes having taken all the spoils to date, this is an opportunity for us to redress the balance.”
In a show of faith to the side which thrashed the London Broncos 58-28 last weekend, Harris has named an unchanged 19-man squad.
Hat-trick heroes Josh Griffin and Greg Johnson retain their place after dominating in the 10-try victory as the Red Devils aim to finish the season on a winning note.
In preparation for the playoffs Betts offers the opportunity for a trio of youngsters to stake a claim for a place in the knockout stages.
Vikings academy products Tom Gilmore, Grant Gore and Jack Owens could all be set for starts at the AJ Bell Stadium as Betts utilises the depth of his squad.
Salford Red Devils: Ashurst, Caton-Brown, Chase, Dixon, Evalds, Fages, D Griffin, J Griffin, Hansen, Johnson, Lee, Locke, Morley, Puletua, Sa’u, Tasi, Tomkins, Walne, Walton
Widnes Vikings: Ah Van, Cahill, Carberry, Dean, Flynn, Galea, Gilmore, Gore, Hanbury, Isa, Johnson, Joseph, Kavanagh, Leuluai, Marsh, Mellor, Owens, Phelps, White
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