Warriors v Reds: Teams
Amos Roberts, Cameron Phelps and skipper Sean O'Loughlin could all return for Wigan against Salford on Friday night.
Last Updated: 08/07/10 11:48am
Wigan coach Michael Maguire has an embarrassment of riches for Friday night's home fixture against struggling Salford.
The Warriors maintained their four-point advantage at the Super League summit with a 34-16 win over Catalans Dragons in Perpignan last Sunday.
The only disappointment from their trip to France was the red card shown to Andy Coley for a high tackle on Jamal Fakir.
The prop was hit with a two-game ban, ruling him out playing against his former club this week, as well as the top-of-the-table showdown with second-placed Warrington at the DW Stadium the following Friday.
However his absence could give a chance to Iafeta Paleaaesina, who has recently fallen down the pecking order for places in the pack.
Skipper returns
Skipper Sean O'Loughlin could return to action for the first team after a month on the sidelines with a thigh injury picked up against Wakefield.
The availability of Amos Roberts and Cameron Phelps give further options to Australian Maguire, though hooker Michael McIlorum is missing due to an ankle injury suffered against the Dragons.
Meanwhile, Salford could welcome back Stefan Ratchford for the trip to the current table-toppers.
Half-back Ratchford was told he would need surgery on a shoulder injury he re-injured against St Helens, though coach Shaun McRae has named him in his 19-man party.
However Lee Jewitt, Ray Cashmere, Dean McGilvray and Willie Talau all remain on the sidelines for the City Reds, who defeated Harlequins at home last time out to move up to 12th spot in the standings.
McRae's men will be looking to gain revenge on the Warriors having lost the reverse fixture 18-4 at the Willows back in April.
Wigan squad: Phelps, Roberts, Gleeson, Carmont, Richards, S. Tomkins, Leuluai, Fielden, Riddell, Hansen, J. Tomkins, S. O'Loughlin, Prescott, Paleaaesina, Deacon, Mossop, Goulding, Farrell, Tuson.
Salford squad: Fitzpatrick, J. Smith, Henry, Neal, Gibson, Adamson, Parker, Sidlow, Alker, Broughton, Sibbit, Ratchford, Swain, M. Smith, Littler, Leuluai, Tyrer, Holdsworth, Boyle.