Noble urges Wigan to be positive in crunch game

For one thing, Trinity are - apart from the exempt-from-relegation Catalans - the team that Super League's bottom club has the best chance of catching. For another, Wigan's next two league games, after next weekend's Challenge Cup diversion at Salford, are against St Helens and Leeds.

Wigan, four points behind their rivals, have their new signing from Hull, Danny Hill, in their squad and he will become another in a series of unlikely debutants this troubled season.

Brett Dallas, David Vaealiki and Kevin Brown are all back in the reckoning for Brian Noble's side, but Mark Calderwood will be out for a month with shoulder damage.

Wigan's injury picture could brighten further if Gareth Hock comes safely through a comeback in the Under-21s, but Noble says the club has to stop concentrating on its bad luck.

"We need to stop feeling sorry for ourselves and start performing," he said. "I think the potential here is terrific. I intend to do something about that potential and put this club back up again where it should be."

Wakefield will be without the suspended Jamie Rooney, but could give a first appearance to their recent signing from Bradford, Adam Watene.

In today's other game, the absence of Thomas Leuluai with a hamstring injury means that Henry Paul will play a central role for his new club, Harlequins, against his old side, Bradford.

Leuluai did the damage playing for New Zealand against Australia last Friday and could be out for six weeks. "I'm relishing the chance to play them," Paul said of facing the Bulls in his third game back in rugby league. "It's going to be a fast game against a hard team and it's the best way for me to get up to speed - by playing all the top teams first."

Bradford, with Steve McNamara settling into the role of head coach, could have Paul Deacon back after an ankle injury.

David Peachey, the full-back sacked by Widnes this week for staying in Australia with his sick step-father, has not given up hope of playing in England again.

"I've still got a two-year working visa, so I don't see why I would throw that away," he said. "Obviously I'd love to be able to get into a Super League club now."