Widnes Vikings v Castleford Tigers: Super League preview
Last Updated: 17/04/15 4:27pm
Widnes host Castleford on Sunday looking to bounce back from back-to-back defeats since beating local rivals Warrington over the Easter period.
The Vikings lost 32-16 to Catalans in Perpignan before falling to a 22-8 defeat at Hull FC last time out to leave them languishing in 11th place in the Super League table.
However, such is the nature of the league this season, a win would take them to within a point of the Tigers in fifth and just two behind fourth-placed Salford.
Castleford, meanwhile, come into the game full of confidence having beaten Hull KR and Warrington in their last two matches and, with Salford in Challenge Cup action this weekend, can move into fourth with a third straight success.
The Vikings make two changes to their squad as Grant Gore and Matt Whitely are replaced by Declan Hulme and Willie Isa, who returns after two months out with a knee injury. Danny Tickle remains side-lined having undergone a groin operation.
Justin Carney is the obvious absentee for the Tigers and faces between six and eight weeks out following the elbow injury he sustained against Hull KR. James Clare replaces him in Daryl Powell’s 19-man squad.
“There is nothing better than getting out there and playing. I hope to put a string of games together now and hopefully my form will come through,” Clare told castlefordtigers.com.
Widnes Vikings: Patrick Ah Van, Kevin Brown, Chris Dean, Gil Dudson, Danny Galea, Alex Gerrard, Rhys Hanbury, Aaron Heremaia, Declan Hulme, Willie Isa, Phil Joseph, Macgraff Leuluai, Manase Manuokafoa, Stefan Marsh, Joe Mellor, Eamon O'Carroll, Jack Owens, Cameron Phelps, Lloyd White.
Castleford Tigers: James Clare, Michael Shenton, Ben Roberts, Luke Gale, Andy Lynch, Adam Milner, Grant Millington, Oliver Holmes, Nathan Massey, Lee Jewitt, Ryan Boyle, Scott Moore, Frankie Mariano, Scott Wheeldon, Liam Finn, Jordan Tansey, Michael Channing, Steve Crossley, Ash Gibson.