Bridge will miss Wembley Cup final

(GETTY IMAGES)

Warrington coach Tony Smith has effectively ruled Chris Bridge out of his line-up for the Challenge Cup final by naming him in his squad for the Carnegie Floodlit Nines at Headingley tonight.

The England centre has recovered more quickly than expected from a shoulder operation and an alternative interpretation is that his coach is testing his fitness in the short form of the game.

But Smith is adamant that is not the case. "I'm disappointed for Chris, because he was playing so well, but it's a bridge too far for him," he said. "We'll have him for the last league game of the season and for the play-offs and that's better than we thought."

Warrington and Leeds will name their 19-man squads tomorrow and their final 17s on Friday.