Saturday 20 September 2014 07:43, UK
There’s a derby at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Saturday afternoon as Warrington Wolves host Widnes Vikings in the Super League playoffs.
It is fifth verses eighth in the table and for the losers it will be season over while the winners will progress to the preliminary semi-final next weekend.
The Wolves crushed Widnes on home soil earlier in the season with a 44-6 triumph although Widnes exacted a measure of revenge in Round 21 with a 28-14 success.
Warrington will be without prop Paul Wood through suspension while back-row pair Ben Westwood and Simon Grix are still sidelined through injury.
“We know Widnes are going to be tough opposition,” said Hill. “We’ve beaten each other this season so nobody has the upper hand. We know they’ve got some dangerous players but we’ll be concentrating on our own game and what we need to do to come out on top.
“We’re ready for what Widnes have to throw at us. The loser goes out so it’s going to be two teams really going for it fighting to progress to the next stage. Knock-out rugby league makes me nervous. I get butterflies before every game.”
Widnes are without centre Stefan Marsh, who has a calf problem, but coach Denis Betts brings back skipper Jon Clarke as well as Kevin Brown, Rhys Hanbury, Eamon O'Carroll and Danny Tickle after resting them for last week's game at Salford.
“We’re confident going into this as underdogs and very rarely get mentioned as favourites,” said Vikings stand-off Brown.
“Hopefully we can take some of the lessons learned from big games like the semi-final and make it right against Warrington. We’re looking at going there, getting the result and moving on to the next team.
“It’s a huge derby with plenty at stake. Both sets of fans are very passionate which will create an amazing atmosphere in the stands. This is something me and the rest of the squad have been looking forward to.”
Warrington Wolves: Asotasi, Atkins, C. Bridge, Currie, England, B. Evans, R. Evans, Harrison, Higham, Hill, Laithwaite, J. Monaghan, M. Monaghan, Myler, O'Brien, Ormsby, Ratchford, Russell, Waterhouse.
Widnes Vikings: Ah Van, Brown, Cahill, Carberry, Dean, Clarke, Flynn, Galea, Gerrard, Hanbury, Isa, Joseph, Leuluai, Mellor, O'Carroll, Owens, Phelps, Tickle, White.
