Rugby League / Regal Trophy: Away test for Wigan: Regal Trophy pits big two

THE quarter-final draw for the Regal Trophy has thrown up the best possible tie, the holders, Wigan, going to the league leaders, Warrington, this Saturday.

'Worse things could have happened to us,' the Warrington coach, Brian Johnson, said. 'I don't believe playing at home is any advantage to us, though.

'Our record against Wigan away is probably better.' Warrington will go into the tie with a run of nine victories behind them, the best in the league.

Johnson expects to have Gary Chambers and John Thursfield, two front-row forwards who missed last Saturday's third-round win over St Helens, fit to face Wigan.

Against that, Wigan are likely to add Martin Offiah, Shaun Edwards and Kelvin Skerrett to the squad that beat Oldham in the last round.

The match is an obvious choice for television on Saturday, especially as the three other ties are hedged around with uncertainties created by postponements last Sunday.

London Crusaders' reward for reaching this stage for the first time is a visit from Bradford or Halifax, depending on the outcome of tonight's rearranged tie. Hull will go to the winners of another match tonight, between Batley and Salford.

The ties must be played by tomorrow night, so Batley have made arrangements to use Wakefield Trinity's ground if their own notoriously muddy pitch is still unfit.

REGAL TROPHY Quarter-finals: Batley or Salford v Hull; Castleford v Carlisle; Warrington v Wigan; London Crusaders v Bradford Northern or Halifax. (Ties to be played on Saturday 18 December or Sunday 19 December).