VIKINGS travel to Belle Vue for another Thursday game seeking their first win over Wakefield since they returned to the top flight.

Having won only one of their last seven Super League encounters suddenly not only is Vikings’ top eight place under threat but they also now risk being overtaken by teams like Wakefield who they were well clear of in May.

And with Trinity having dusted both Wigan and Leeds in recent weeks, the Vikings will go there as underdogs.

However, Vikings’ run in of games is tough – and this is on paper arguably their most winnable game in July.

They travel to Yorkshire in good physical shape with no major injury concerns.

Vikings assistant coach Mick Cassidy said: “We just have bumps, although Cameron Phelps took a whack and so we’ll see how he shapes up.

“The squad is looking good, with Eamon O’Carroll looking fit and strong on the road to recovery -and only a few weeks off. But apart from that we are looking good.”

At Wakefield they will see a familiar face in new coach – and former Viking – James Webster, who has helped rejuvenate the team’s fortunes since he took over from Richard Agar.

Cassidy said: “Wakefield are a good team who have come into some form and the change of coach has given them more impetus to fight for positions.

“They have strung together a couple of good wins and have shown they can grind out success.

“There are no easy games in this competition - everyone is fighting for something.

“Every game is important to us – we want to stay in the top eight and progress up the table and get a better position.

“If we don’t win then Wakefield are that little bit closer to us.

“We certainly need a good performance and tidy up the defensive mistakes from the Castleford game.

“That is what we have worked on this week.

“The next three to four weeks is vital to where we are going to finish in the competition so the sooner we pick up wins the better.”

He figured 24-26 points would secure a place in the top eight but he noted that the teams below them are now chalking up good wins too.

“We could do with picking up a couple of wins to take the pressure off,” Cassidy said.“