Injury-hit Wigan set to gamble on Allen

The Wigan coach, Stuart Raper, believes the untried 17-year-old forward David Allen would take things in his stride if thrown into Sunday's Powergen Challenge Cup semi-final against Bradford.

Wigan's injuries mean that Allen, yet to play a first-team game, is on standby for a place on the bench if Jamie Ainscough and Mark Smith fail to recover from shoulder and knee injuries respectively. "It's a big ask for anyone in that situation and it might not happen," Raper said. "But he's a fairly confident kid and he wouldn't be fazed by it."

Despite Wigan's stuttering start to the season, they will not rush Andy Farrell back after knee surgery. "He's still three to four weeks away and there are some injuries you just can't take a risk with," Raper said.

St Helens have Barry Ward back in training for their semi-final against Leeds on Saturday. "He's started light training after his knee injury, but it would be a gamble for us to use him," the Saints coach, Ian Millward, said.

Millward has definitely ruled out Keiron Cunningham and Tommy Martyn, although his track record in such matters means that Leeds half expect to face them. On the other hand, Millward predicted that Sean Long would be fit, even though he is thought to be struggling with a hamstring injury.

Long's younger brother, Karl, has left London Broncos after playing just 10 minutes against Castleford on Sunday. His fellow debutant, Jamie Fielden, has also left the club.