Devils without hitman for clash with Warriors
SALFORD will be without Ben Murdoch-Masila when they travel to the DW Stadium tonight to take on Wigan Warriors.
The star second rower – currently leading the Red Devils’ try-scoring charts – picked up a rib injury in the defeat to Castleford and has failed to recover in time.
However, Ian Watson’s side will be boosted by the return of centre Junior Sa’u, who missed the club’s first two Super 8s fixtures, and the fact that Tyrone McCarthy is fit for selection, despite limping out of the warm-up last week with a calf strain.
Jordan Walne comes into the 19-man squad in place of Murdoch-Masila, with Daniel Murray dropping out for Sa’u.
After making his return from injury against the Tigers, Kriss Brining retains his place.
The two sides contested the Challenge Cup semi-final last month, with the Warriors prevailing 27-14. In Super League, Wigan won out on the opening day of the season at the AJ Bell Stadium after racing into an unassailable first-half lead, but the Red Devils proved too strong in the reverse fixture, winning 31-16 back in May.
Both sides have been affected by injuries over the course of the year and ex-Wigan forward Lee Mossop is among the front-line players Watson is currently unable to call upon.
Captain Michael Dobson also misses out, while Lama Tasi and Mark Flanagan have been ruled out for the season.
After booking their spot in next weekend’s Challenge Cup final, it may have been tempting for Shaun Wane to rest some of his players ahead of what is likely to be the Warriors’ most realistic shot of silverware this year.
However, the Super League champions have not given up hope of retaining their title at Old Trafford in October and would move ahead of Salford with a victory.
They are without young winger Tom Davies, who misses out because of a slight hamstring injury, but will hope to recover in time to feature in the Wembley showpiece. Liam Marshall is expected to slot in and take his spot on the wing, with Nick Gregson brought in to complete the 19-man squad.
Wane might have been tempted to hand a recall to Dom Manfredi had he not picked up a slight injury in the Warriors’ reserve clash with St Helens on Saturday. The 23-year-old – who spent time on loan with Salford back in 2014 – has missed almost 12 months since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in last year’s Super 8s.
The latest knock is not a recurrence of that injury, but does affect the same knee and is being monitored by the club’s medical staff.
■ WIGAN: Bateman, Burgess, Clubb, Farrell, Gelling, Gildart, Isa, Leuluai, Marshall, McIlorum, Nuuausala, O’Loughlin, Powell, Sutton, Tautai, S. Tomkins, Wells, Williams.
■ SALFORD: Bibby, Brining, Carney, Evalds, Griffin, Hauraki, Johnson, Jones, Kopczak, Krasniqi, Lannon, Lui, McCarthy, O’Brien, Sa’u, L. Tomkins, Vatuvei, A. Walne, J. Walne.