STEVE McNamara is expecting a red-hot collision between his Catalans Dragons team and Widnes Vikings tomorrow in a crucial Super League clash in Perpignan, writes Steve Brady.

Both sides are desperate for the points to climb out of the bottom four danger zone in the league table. Widnes won their first meeting this season, in freezing conditions at the Halton Stadium on the first day of the season. But McNamara is hoping for a different result this time around.

“Well, there is a big difference because it’s going to be red hot tomorrow, the forecast is for it to be very warm. It’ll be pretty hot on the pitch too because both teams are desperate for the two points.

“It’s going to be a tough game, Widnes are renowned as being a tough team. They don’t go away, they don’t get beaten easy. You have to play well to beat them.

“Weller (Hauraki, who joined the Vikings from Salford this week) will be good for them and can only make them stronger. But we’ve added some players to the squad too. It should be a great contest with a lot at stake.”

Francis Cummins takes charge for the first time of Widnes Vikings since the departure of coach Denis Betts and McNamara believes this could boost the visitors.

“It’s always sad when you see a coach leave, but what tends to happen when a new coach steps in is there’s a bit of a bounce, I just hope that bounce is not tomorrow.”

The game is at the Stade Gilbert Brutus tomorrow and is televised live on Sky TV kick-off 5pm UK time.