Leigh Leopards will be down on troops when they host Wigan Warriors on Friday night with up to eleven players potentially out.
Both sides are in fine form heading into this one with Leigh having won 11 of their last 13 despite being without plenty of key players and they’ll hope to rely on that experience if they’re to beat Wigan.
The Warriors humiliated Leigh earlier in the season in the reverse fixture as they won 54-0 and Wigan have just welcomed star man Bevan French back into the side after injury, with the former Man of Steel stealing the show last week against St Helens.
Wigan’s injury issues have subsided in recent weeks with French one of four players returning for that win over Saints, and they’ll certainly be the healthier team going into Friday night’s clash.
Saints in crisis?, Rowley reaction, massive injury, and Super League’s best-ever overseas player? – Click here to watch the Serious About Rugby League Show!
Leigh Leopards injury news
Leigh suffered three more injury blows in Saturday’s win over Warrington with one of them far more substantial the others. Frankie Halton suffered a suspected torn pec, something that would rule him out for the season if confirmed.
Edwin Ipape will also certainly miss the game after a failed HIA, whilst full-back Davy Armstrong will require a check on his corked hamstring. Gaz O’Brien also pulled out of the game against Wire on the morning so he will be assessed further.
Most Read on Serious About Rugby League
Robbie Mulhern (hamstring) had been 50/50 for that game but missed out so he could return whilst Andy Badrock and Nathan Wilde, both out on loan at Widnes, could be recalled if injuries prove substantial.
Bailey Hodgson is likely out for the year as a result of an infection following an elbow operation, whilst centre Tesi Niu is expected to be out for the year due to a knee injury.
Jacob Alick-Wiencke could return for this game whilst AJ Towse is another who is close. Keanan Brand (ankle) is approaching a return whilst Aaron Pene’s status is unknown. Kavan Rothwell is expected to miss the rest of the season.
Wigan Warriors injury news
Wigan welcomed back all of Liam Marshall (hamstring), Bevan French (hamstring) and Noah Hodkinson (skull fracture) from injury last week with all three appearing to come through fine.
They also got Sam Walters back after his seven-game ban meaning that the vast majority of their unavailable list has returned but some big names are still out.
Junior Nsemba (hamstring) suffered a setback with Matt Peet revealing last week that the England international would be out for a further five weeks, whilst captain Liam Farrell (shoulder) is another who will take a little longer to return than originally expected.
Jack Farrimond (hamstring) remains unavailable, as does Abbas Miski, who can’t be used due to the salary cap, as well as Kian McDermott (suspension), Nathan Lowe (hamstring) and Oliver Wilson (Achilles).
