UPDATED: Wane playing the waiting game
Centre Oliver Gildart is being given every chance to prove he is fit to return from a shoulder problem in Friday’s home contest.
But the Warriors will still need to draft in at least one reinforcement, because the two players who were injured early into Sunday’s 16-16 draw with Huddersfield - captain Sean O’Loughlin and fringe forward Jack Wells - have been ruled out.
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Hide AdO’Loughlin is out for two or three weeks with a calf strain, while Wells’ ankle injury is still being assessed.
With nine other frontline players on the sidelines - as well as a couple other fringe players - the depth of Wigan’s senior squad will again be tested against the Challenge Cup holders.
Prop Joe Bretherton and utility Nick Gregson, who both debuted last year, played for the reserves last week and could come into the reckoning.
Another option would be to hand a fourth academy-product a debut - Callum Field, Caine Barnes and Josh Ganson are the only other fit members of the senior squad.
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Hide AdAssistant coach John Winder said: “Hopefully Oli Gildart will be back, he’s ticking the boxes so far but he’s going right up to team run and we’ll make a decision then.
“At this moment, we’ve not made a call on who else will come in.
“A few guys will go to team run and then it will be a positional decision after that. We’ll look at what players are on deck and make a call then.”
Gildart’s likely-return would allow Willie Isa to revert to his preferred role in the pack.
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Hide AdTom Davies, who made a try-scoring first appearance on Sunday, is set to hang onto his wing spot in a backline featuring two other recent debutants - Liam Marshall and Liam Forsyth.
“I was really pleased for Tom,” said Winder, who took yesterday’s weekly press conference as Wane is recovering from a knee operation.
“He’s excelled in training, he’s had a month of good performances at Swinton (on dual-registration) and he took his opportunity.
“He was in three-figures for his metre-carries, and he finished his try well. When I watched it live, I must admit I thought it was 50-50 whether he’d got it down (before going into touch).
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Hide Ad“But I’ve watched it back and it was a try, and a great finish by him.”
Here is a list of injured players and an update on when they may be fit to return:
Lewis Tierney.
Injury: Knee
Expected return: two-four weeks
Joe Burgess
Injury: Knee
Expected return: two-three weeks
Dom Manfredi:
Injury: Knee
Expected return: Autumn
Oliver Gildart
Injury: Shoulder
Expected return: This week
Sam Tomkins
Injury: Broken foot
Expected return: Late April
Jake Shorrocks
Injury: Knee
Expected return: Two-three weeks
Connor Farrell
Injury: Knee
Expected return: Two-three weeks
Liam Farrell
Injury: Pulled calf
Expected return: Two-three weeks
Micky McIlorum
Injury: Broken ankle
Expected return: Late April
John Bateman
Injury: Shoulder
Expected return: June
Ryan Sutton
Injury: Eye
Expected return: One-two weeks
Jack Wells:
Injury: Ankle
Expected return: Unclear, but not thought to be serious
Sean O’Loughlin
Injury: Pulled calf
Expected return: Two weeks