Wigan Warriors v Castleford Tigers: Cas confident but Warriors pose threat warns Powell

CONFIDENT CASTLEFORD Tigers have been going about their business quietly, but their Betfred Super League rivals will sit up and take notice if they can win at Wigan Warriors tonight.
Jamie Ellis.Jamie Ellis.
Jamie Ellis.

Tigers began Super League round 12 in fourth place in the table, just two points behind Wigan, but with a game in hand. Wigan’s superior points difference means they will probably remain at least second whatever happens tonight, but a Castleford win would boost their hopes of a top-two finish and increase the pressure on leaders St Helens.

Wigan are billing it as a “grudge match” and Tigers coach Daryl Powell said: “They are off the back of a win against Leeds and they will be feeling pretty confident.

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“We are going pretty well and they are always good games, Wigan and Cas.

Daryl Powell.Daryl Powell.
Daryl Powell.

“There’s a decent rivalry built up over the last few years and we are looking forward to it.”

Wigan missed out on the semi-finals last year after finishing sixth, but have bounced back strongly and lost only twice so far this year.

“The last two weeks, it looked like they were going to lose both games, but they came back and won,” Powell added. “They’ve got a durability about them and defensively they are very good – and have been for years.

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“They’ve got more skill about them as a group and we will have to be good.

Gadwin Springer.Gadwin Springer.
Gadwin Springer.

“They are always tough games, but we have got some confidence about us. We have got to go there and play our own game, defend well and try and put them under as much pressure as we can.”

Greg Eden (hamstring) remains on Tigers’ casualty list so Powell will select from the 17 players who beat Catalans Dragons 41-0 last Sunday, plus Jamie Ellis and Gadwin Springer.

Ben Flower is available for Wigan after missing last week’s 9-8 win due to concussion. Morgan Escare is also in contention, along with the 17 players on duty at Headingley.

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Wigan Warriors: from Bateman, Burgess, Clubb, Escare, Farrell, Flower, Gildart, Isa, Leuluai, Marshall, Navarrete, O’Loughlin, Powell, Sarginson, Sutton, Tautai, J Tomkins, S Tomkins, Williams,

Daryl Powell.Daryl Powell.
Daryl Powell.

Castleford Tigers: from Clare, Cook, Elis, Foster, Gale, Holmes, Massey, McMeeken, McShane, Millington, Milner, Minikin, Roberts, Shenton, Springer, Trueman, Wardle, Watts, Webster.

Referee: Chris Kendall (Huddersfield).

Kick-off: Tonight, 7.45pm.