Farrell to face Warrington after escaping suspension

Andy Farrell and Paul Sculthorpe have avoided suspension for their roles in the Good Friday brawl during the draw between Wigan and St Helens, but Saints will be without two players for their Powergen Challenge Cup semi-final against Huddersfield.

Andy Farrell and Paul Sculthorpe have avoided suspension for their roles in the Good Friday brawl during the draw between Wigan and St Helens, but Saints will be without two players for their Powergen Challenge Cup semi-final against Huddersfield.

Dom Feaunati has been banned for three games for his part in the punch-up, but Sculthorpe will be clear to play in the semi-final on 25 April after being found not guilty. Farrell was found guilty and fined £300, but was not given any ban and will be able to play against Warrington in the first semi this weekend.

All three players were cited after a fight involving most of the 26 players on the pitch.

A second Saint, Jon Wilkin, has been suspended for four games for used of the forearm in a late tackle on Bradford's Paul Deacon on Easter Monday.

The Warrington coach, Paul Cullen, said yesterday that he had always expected Farrell to be available for Sunday. He also expects his own captain, Lee Briers, to be fit after a hand injury which has kept him out of the Wolves' last two games.

"We're greatly hopeful that he will be fit," Cullen said. "The minor concerns we have had with him meant that it wasn't worth the risk of playing him." Briers was even more adamant. "I'm going to be there, don't worry about that," he said.

Cullen also hopes to be able to call on players like Chris Leikvoll, Graham Appo and Paul Wood, with only the winger, John Wilshere, definitely ruled out.

Ticket sales suggest that Warrington supporters will outnumber Wigan fans by two-to-one at the Halton Stadium.

"It's well-known that Warrington fans are the best in the country and it's going to be a massive boost for us when we run out on Sunday," Briers said.

The Bradford captain, Robbie Paul, has been recalled to the New Zealand team for the Test against Australia in Newcastle next Friday. Paul, who last played for his country in 2002, missed much of last season and the start of this with a broken arm.

Paul and his Bradford team-mate, Lesley Vainikolo, called up for the first time since the 2000 World Cup, will miss their club's match against Hull next Friday.