DENIS Betts said Widnes Vikings will be fielding a completely different team against Catalans Dragons on Monday to the one that defeated Warrington Wolves 30-10 on Thursday.

With another tough trip to Hull FC to follow next Friday, the black and whites face three games in eight days.

“Three games in eight days is atrocious so I’ve got to use the squad and give opportunities,” he said.

Out go key pivots Kevin Brown, Joe Mellor and Rhys Hanbury, probably Cameron Phelps with a head injury sustained on Thursday plus Danny Tickle who was scheduled for a groin operation today.

“Danny Craven and Tom Gilmore will play, and Grant Gore will come into the side,” said Betts, who arrives in Perpigan with his squad today.

“Dec Hulme will play too. We’ll run with the forwards we’ve got because we can rotate them like we did against Warrington.”

He added: “We’ll go with a load of desire and purpose and those lads have known all week that they’ll play.

“What happens over this Easter period could affect us for 10 weeks.

“To roll out Kev again, after his first game in four weeks, and Joe Mellor who played 80 minutes and has been our highest impact front runner, could end up breaking them and losing them if they played three games in eight days.

“So I feel fortunate that Tom’s been playing really well at London, Grant’s had a run of games in the team and Danny Craven’s had some games at Whitehaven.

“It gives them an opportunity now to show what they can do. It’s in a tough place but I’ve put it on them as a challenge to go to Catalans and pull the strings.”

Betts was clearly pleased that part one of his Easter plans worked a treat against Warrington, achieving victory with a side that featured four players returning from injury in Brown, Tickle, Lloyd White and Danny Galea.

It was Vikings’ third win of the season, coming after a poor performance in a heavy defeat at Salford on the back of a Sunday-Thursday turnaround He said: "Defensively we were outstanding. It was something we talked about after the Salford game. I thought across the board everybody's energy was that little bit better.

"We knew we had it in us to score points but I wanted us to show we can defend and defend with resilience. They scored a try off a kick and another when we were down to 12 men so I'm really happy with the way we defended."

He says defence is key to how the rest of the season could pan out.

"Leeds and St Helens are doing okay but I don't think anybody has taken hold of this league yet," said Betts.

"If we can defend like that, anything is possible. This is a really solid ruby league side.

"Kevin is a fantastic half and he gives us great control, Rhys is a sensational full-back and if I'm honest about Lloyd White, he can be the best nine in the country.

"I thought young Matt Whitley was fantastic, I was really pleased for him that he got a chance when Cameron Phelps had to go off.

"He was full of energy, exactly what I wanted from him. He came on and gave a tired side some pep. He didn't look out of place in a Super League game against one of the top sides in the competition."