Peters ready for Widnes debut against former club

Willie Peters, the scrum-half Widnes hope will steer them away from the lower reaches of Super League, makes his debut today against his previous British club.

Willie Peters, the scrum-half Widnes hope will steer them away from the lower reaches of Super League, makes his debut today against his previous British club.

Peters had a successful season with Wigan in 2000, following eye-catching performances for the ill-fated Gateshead club the previous year. After stints in Australia with St George-Illawarra and South Sydney, he is back in England and is already making a difference.

"Even in training you can see what a presence he is going to be for us," said the Widnes coach, Neil Kelly, who is considering who to pair with the new arrival.

Jules O'Neill is the regular stand-off, but Kelly might persist with last week's experiment of playing him at full-back for at least part of the game.

"I'm glad we've got Wigan first up," Peters said. "It will be a good testagainst my old club."

Wigan's problems are in the pack, with Craig Smith the only fit prop following Danny Sculthorpe's shoulder operation, meaning back-rowers such as Mick Cassidy, Danny Tickle and Andy Farrell will have to share the heavy work.

With Wigan involved in a hard game at Hull last Tuesday and Peters on his debut, it may not be a bad time for Widnes - who beat them at a similar stage last season - to meet them again.

In tomorrow's games, Bradford - who were not going to rush Iestyn Harris into their side even before Leeds' legal challenge to his signing - will be without Michael Withers at Castleford. The full-back could miss the next 10 weeks with a knee problem, but Lesley Vainikolo is back after illness. Castleford welcome back Darren Rogers, Craig Greenhill, Lee Harland and Nathan Sykes to their squad. Greenhill is being linked with a move to Wakefield, while another Australian, Sean Rudder, could soon be released.

Hull expect Shaun McRae, their coach, back from Australia for their game against Huddersfield. McRae has been visiting his sick father but has been tipped to be named as South Sydney's next coach on Monday. The club have said that he will be replaced by his assistant, John Kear, who has added Jason Smith and Andy Bailey to the squad for the visit of the unchanged Giants.

The Super League leaders, Leeds, go to Warrington, who should have Lee Briers in their side after a shoulder injury. Danny McGuire returns for the Rhinos, but only on the bench.

London, who have the weekend off, hope to make two signings in time for their next game against St Helens.