Wales rely on Briers' recovery for decider

Two nations' World Cup dreams will die at Widnes tonight at the penultimate stage of qualification for next year's tournament.

Ever since the organisers decided on a 10-team tournament, it was inevitable there would be some disappointed contenders. That will include Wales, if they fail to beat Lebanon, having already lost out to Scotland for automatic qualification. Much will depend on their captain, Lee Briers, recovering from injury, and their coach, Martin Hall, lifting a squad who were emotionally shattered on Sunday. The Lebanese have had their problems, with three players having to go home.

The winners of that match will be expecting to face Samoa at Featherstone in the final qualifier next Wednesday. Samoa must first beat the US tonight, but a side who lost 70-0 to Cumbria at the weekend is unlikely to detain them.

The Great Britain coach, Tony Smith, has left Gareth Raynor and Leon Pryce out of his side to play New Zealand tomorrow. David Hodgson and Jon Wilkin will start, with James Roby and the one new cap, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, on the bench.