WIDNES Vikings see tomorrow night’s Super League XX launch game at home to Wigan as a massive feather in their caps as they seek to build on last year’s ‘club of the year’ status.

Vikings will host last year’s beaten Grand Finalists for the opening clash of the restructured competition – and after a big build up pushing the game coach Denis Betts is looking forward to a huge crowd.

Having played all three of their warm-up games on the road, the clash will be home fans’ first glimpse – if selected – of new boys Gil Dudson, Manase Manuokafoa, Chris Clarkson and Aaron Heremaia.

Betts said: “It’s a big launch for Super League and I’d like it to be a sell out.

“Although Wigan have given us a couple of floggings since we returned, we have picked up a couple of wins as well. We are slowly but surely picking off the big boys and we are really excited for this start.

“It is a bit of an honour for the club to be launching the season – and to bring the beaten Grand Finalists and a massive pat on the back for the club.”

A relatively fit squad has given Betts a few selection posers for the opening round – but he is pleased to have some tough decisions to make over the next couple of weeks.

Betts now has some big men to pick from with the arrival of Dudson and Manuokafoa, but as big a bonus could be Eamon O’Carroll, who missed large chunks of last term with injury.

“Eamon is not the biggest of men, but he’s a fantastic front rower and carries the ball well and hits pretty hard “When you throw him in with Dudson and Manuokafoa it gives us the look of a big side.

“Whether they all play is a different matter, but what they give me is good options in the fight for selection."

“With Danny Tickle, Chris Clarkson, Danny Galea and Hep Cahill in there in the back row – we are not small.

“They play aggressively and as a group, but what we need to do as a team is appreciate our pitch is fast so you need to pick a side that can get us around that field as well,” he said.