Players nervously hoping to avoid virus ahead of Wembley

THERE is an innate nervousness for players surrounding Covid testing at the best of times but when a Challenge Cup final is looming that sense of unease only increases further.

Leeds Rhinos and Salford Red Devils will be keeping their fingers crossed nothing untoward happens between now and Saturday week when they contest the Wembley decider.

As a reminder of just how fragile matters are, the RFL confirmed Wigan Warriors had two more players record positive yesterday. They had already seen one player miss two matches last month because of the virus.

However, Leeds, of course, were their last opponents, winning Saturday’s semi- final to set up that meeting with Salford.

Of the two Wigan players who tested positive, one was involved in that match but the governing body say test and trace analysis shows, fortunately, no player from either side has to self- isolate as a result of close contacts from the game. Clearly, if a Leeds player had needed to isolate for 14 days, that would immediately rule him out of Wembley, possibly the biggest game of his career.

Still, both finalists have two more games to negotiate before the final and both will be desperately hoping none of their staff are hit directly or indirectly.

The Wigan duo displayed symptoms and are self- isolating but Friday’s game against Warrington Wolves at Emerald Headingley should still go ahead.

That no other players need to isolate – and this has been the case after some other Super League clubs recorded positives – shows adaptations are working.

Definitions agreed with Public Health England that helped the sport restart in August say ‘ close contacts’ are face- to- face contact for three seconds or more – which is why the RFL was keen to abolish scrums and modify try celebrations – and a total of 15 minutes for fleeting contact.

Leeds are without back- row Alex Mellor for tomorrow’s game against Castleford Tigers after he picked up a knock against Wigan but Cup- tied Bodene Thompson returns and Jack Walker, Adam Cuthbertson, Alex Sutcliffe and Luke Briscoe all hope to feature.

Struggling Castleford are again without injured half- backs Jake Trueman, Danny Richardson and Pete Mata’utia while prop George Griffin also drops out but Derrell Olpherts and Alex Foster return.

Hull FC’s Andre Savelio pleaded guilty to a ‘ use of knees charge’ against Castleford at a tribunal last night but saw his one- match ban overturned after challenging the grading and was instead fined £ 500. ExHull KR coach Tim Sheens has surprisingly resigned at Widnes. Latest Super League fixtures: Tues October 13 - ( Halliwell Jones Stadium): Hull KR v Salford ( 2.00), Hull FC v Huddersfield ( 5.30), Warrington v Leeds ( 7.45) Thurs October 15 - ( Halliwell Jones Stadium): Wigan v Catalans ( 5.30), St Helens v Wakefield ( 7.45)

Thurs October 22 - ( Totally Wicked Stadium):

Fri October 23 - ( TW Stadium):