Warriors v Crusaders: Teams
Former Wigan boss Brian Noble looks set to give a debut to Weller Hauraki when the Crusaders travel to the DW Stadium.
Last Updated: 05/02/10 3:53pm
All the focus will be on the two coaches at the DW Stadium on Friday night when former Warriors boss Brian Noble takes his Crusaders to a Wigan side now under the stewardship of Michael Maguire.
After three-and-a-half years with the Cherry and Whites, Noble is now at the helm of a club who finished bottom of Super League in 2009.
Wigan have gone to Australia to find his replacement - Maguire heading to England after being an assistant at Melbourne Storm - the reigning NRL champions - for the past five years.
The only other new face at Wigan is Paul Deacon. The scrum-half looks set to make his debut for his hometown club after being chosen in a 19-man squad.
The Warriors are without two players for their first fixture of 2010 - Phil Bailey and Michael McIlorum are missing with Achilles and wrist injuries respectively.
Hauraki debut
Crusaders are likely to hand a debut to Weller Hauraki, a 24-year-old forward who has been snapped up following his release by Parramatta.
The New Zealander, who scored three tries in six outings for the Eels last year, arrived in Wrexham on Sunday and has been named in the visitors' 19-man squad.
"He's settled in nicely and had the chance to get over the jet lag," said first-team coach Jon Sharp. "He has had a couple of sessions with us and he's really impressed. He has some size and looks to have plenty of skill.
"We've not finalised the team yet but he'll probably be in the 17 for Friday."
Hauraki is the latest signing by Noble, who handed eight players their debuts for the Welsh club in the home opener against Leeds last Friday.
Crusaders suffered no injuries in that 34-6 defeat to the reigning Super League champions, much to the relief of Sharp.
"With a such a small squad, it was really important we got through the first game," he added.
Welsh internationals Elliott Kear, a full-back, and second rower Ben Flower, who was ruled out of the Rhinos game with a toe injury, are also in contention.
Full-back Rhys Hansbury, who was also due to land in Wales this week, will not now arrive until the end of February.
Wigan squad: Phelps, Roberts, Gleeson, Carmont, Richards, S. Tomkins, Leuluai, Fielden, Riddell, Coley, Hansen, J. Tomkins, O'Loughlin, Prescott, Paleaaesina, Deacon, O'Carroll, Mossop, Goulding
Crusaders RL squad: Youngquest, Mellars, Raynor, Witt, O'Hara, Withers, Bryant, Hauraki, Chan, Trimarchi, Dyer, Lee, Winternstein, Peek, Thackray, James, Flower, White, Lupton