Wigan v St Helens

ENGAGE SUPER LEAGUE
Venue: DW Stadium Date: Friday 22 April Kick-off: 1445 BST
Coverage: Updates on BBC Radio 5 Live, Radio Manchester & the BBC Sport website, highlights on the Super League Show. Live on Sky 1 & HD

England international Darrell Goulding is recalled by Wigan for the annual Good Friday derby clash with St Helens.

Goulding will be vying with Josh Charnley for the right-wing spot in what would be the only change to the side that won 28-16 at Hull KR.

Injury-hit St Helens are without Lee Gaskell, Chris Flannery, Leon Pryce, Josh Perry and Paul Clough, while Bath-bound Kyle Eastmond is ill.

Forwards Scott Hale, Matty Ashurst and Andrew Dixon comes into the squad.

Youngster Hale, who is yet to make his Super League debut, may be joined by winger Francis Meli, who also returns to the squad.

Saints go into Friday afternoon’s sell-out clash in a higher league position, five wins on the spin having propelled them up to second in the table.

They also have the psychological advantage of having won on their last three visits to Wigan, whose home record over the past 12 months, despite being reigning Super League champions, is distinctly average.

Set against that, Wigan beat Saints 22-10 to win last season’s Grand Final in October.

But, when the two sides met again, at Magic Weekend in Cardiff on the first day of this season in February, Saints scored three tries in the last 15 minutes as they came back to draw 16-16.

Wigan coach Michael Maguire told BBC Radio Manchester:

“It’s a big match and one we’re all looking forward to, anytime you play St Helens the passion is enormous.

“I’ve seen the rivalry between Saints and Wigan from the day I walked in. They love playing each other and love beating each other.

“It will be a tough game. They have been bobbing along and playing very well. We turned a bit of a corner last week and we’re really looking forward to playing this Friday.

“They have blooded a number of youngsters who have come through and performed. It is going to be a good test.”

St Helens coach Royce Simmons told BBC Radio Merseyside:

“Wigan are very strong overall. They were certainly the best side in the competition last year.

“Before last week they lost a couple of games but they bounced back. It’s hard to go up to Hull KR and come away with the points but they did it very confidently.

“But we go down there playing last season’s champions with a bit of confidence.”

Wigan (from): S Tomkins, Goulding, Carmont, Richards, Deacon, Leuluai, McIlorum, Coley, Hansen, J Tomkins, O’Loughlin, Prescott, Lima, Hoffman, Finch, Mossop, Tuson, Charnley, Farrell.

St Helens (from): Wellens, Gardner, Shenton, Soliola, Meli, Roby, Graham, Puletua, Wilkin, Moore, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Wheeler, Ashurst, Dixon, Lomax, Magennis, Foster, Makinson, Hale.