Play-off Preview: Wigan v Warrington

James Gordon 03 Oct 2014 9:38 AM

Wigan and Warrington meet in a repeat of last season’s Super League Grand Final, with the winner progressing to meet St Helens at Old Trafford.

The Warriors have won both meetings between the two sides in 2014, winning 12-4 at the Halliwell Jones Stadium back in March, and then coming out 24-20 winners at the DW Stadium in the final round of the regular season.

Warrington will be looking to reach their third consecutive Grand Final, and have seen off Widnes and Castleford to get to the last four the hard way, having finished fifth.

Wigan, on the other hand, breezed past Huddersfield in the first round of the play-offs, which enabled them to enjoy a week off last weekend.

Former Wigan full-back Matty Russell is back in the Warrington squad after suffering facial injuries in the win over Widnes, although replacement Stefan Ratchford was man of the match against Castleford last week.

The only change to the Wigan squad sees prop Scott Taylor come in for Gil Dudson, but coach Shaun Wane is likely to stick with the team that beat the Giants two weeks ago.

Wigan 19-man squad: Bateman, Bowen, Burgess, Charnley, Clubb, Crosby, L Farrell, Flower, Gelling, Hughes, McIlorum, O’Loughlin, Pettybourne, Powell, Sarginson, Smith, Taylor, Tomkins.

Warrington 19-man squad: Asotasi, Atkins, C Bridge, Currie, England, B Evans, R Evans, Harrison, Higham, Hill, Laithwaite, J Monaghan, M Monaghan, Myler, O’Brien, Ratchford, Russell, Waterhouse, Wood.

LRL Prediction: Wigan’s home advantage to see them home – just.

Last ten meetings:

Wigan 24, Warrington 20 (SLR27, 11/9/14)

Warrington 4, Wigan 12 (SLR6, 20/3/14)

Warrington 16, Wigan 30 (SLGF, 5/10/13)

(at Old Trafford, Manchester)

Warrington 22, Wigan 12 (SLR19, 24/6/13)

Wigan 17, Warrington 17 (SLR2, 8/2/13)

Warrington 30, Wigan 10 (SLR24, 11/8/12)

Wigan 20, Warrington 22 (SLR8, 23/3/12)

Warrington 39, Wigan 12 (SLR26, 4/9/11)

Warrington 24, Wigan 44 (CCQF, 23/7/11)