CCF: Huddersfield v Warrington

Correspondent

Warrington Wolves have named Mick Higham as their replacement for the injured Jon Clarke in the Carnegie Challenge Cup final against Huddersfield Giants.

Higham – whose partner Kate is due to give birth on the day of the game – has been sidelines with a bicep injury since the beginning of June.

Huddersfield have replaced the injured Danny Kirmond with Martin Aspinwall who will be starting on the Giants bench.

Warrington have also chosen to play Vinnie Anderson at stand-off, with coach Tony Smith saying that the New Zealander is the best choice available.

“It’s not unfamiliar to him,” said Smith. “He’s played Test matches at number six so if people are prepared to play him there at Test level I don’t think it’s a big risk.

“It’s not his accustomed position but stand off and loose forward is not a huge difference.

“Vinnie’s a good distributor of the ball but I don’t know how much we want him to distribute. We want him to run the ball as much as he can.

“He’ll handle that role no problem and he’s done that a few times for us this year as well.”

Paul Rauhihi has been dropped from the initial 19-man squad because of a back injury, while Tyrone McCarthy will make only his third first-team appearance with a place on the bench.

Giants coach Nathan Brown has preferred Aspinwall to Simon Finnigan as Kirmond’s replacement; Andy Raleigh had been expected to play but lacks match fitness.

“His form has been really good in the back row and he also gives us flexibility,” said Brown.

Aspinwall’s inclusion on the bench is the only change from the side that beat St Helens in the semi final at Warrington three weeks ago.

Challenge Cup Final:

Huddersfield: B Hodgson (capt); Cudjoe, Lolesi, Whatuira, D Hodgson; Brown, Robinson; Mason, Moore, Griffin, Fulton, Wild, Faiumu. Subs: Crabtree, Jackson, Lunt, Aspinwall

Warrington: Mathers; Riley, King, Bridge, Hicks; V Anderson, Briers; Morley (capt), Monaghan, Carvell, L Anderson, Westwood, Harrison. Subs: Cooper, Johnson, Higham, McCarthy