TABLE-TOPPING Widnes Vikings face a tough test on Thursday night when they entertain a strong Hull FC side which contains threats across the board.

Widnes, who saw off Hull KR last Friday, will be gunning to make it a quick-fire Humber double, but coach Denis Betts knows that the Airlie Birds present a much more potent threat.

But looking down from their lofty perch, Vikings are excited by the challenge as they prepare to begin a month of tough fixtures which includes three local derbies.

Vikings boss Betts said: "If you look across the Hull team there are threats and experience everywhere.

"I’m not sure if Frank 'The Tank' Pritchard will play, but nevertheless they are still pretty formidable.

"In Mark Minichiello they have one of the form back-rowers from last season, Gareth Ellis is back playing well and Sika Manu is an international back rower, while Liam Watts and Scott Taylor are hard to handle and Danny Houghton does what he does.

"They have exciting backs too, but my players are excited that they are going to play one of the league’s better sides on Thursday."

Vikings will go into the game with Patrick Ah Van, Alex Gerrard and Aaron Heremaia fit and available, and although there is a question mark over Charly Runciman he is still in the mix.

The news on on-loan packman Connor Farrell, however, does not look promising.

Betts said: "Connor could be out for four or five months. He went in for surgery on Monday and we will await what the doctor says, whether it is cartilage damage or worse. I am wishing for the best but fearing the worst.

"Aaron Heremaia missed last week with a tight hamstring.

"He knows his body and if he had gone out there and pulled up after 10 minutes it would not have been good for us.

"We have a pretty tough run coming up so he has to put himself in a position where he going to be able to contribute over the next month."

Vikings' early season form in winning four out of five has caught a few by surprise, but not Betts who feels it is a combination of factors – maturity, the quality of the players that have come in this year and a relatively fit squad.

Betts said: "A couple of things are starting to come together.

"The time and effort we have put in has got us to a place where we are nice and solid.

"Plus we have two or three quality recruits who have added to the team.

"Some of those have gone under the radar.

"I think there was only ourselves and those who knew anything about the game who knew what a good player Corey Thompson was going to be.

"Chris Houston was a good player coming in, but he’d just had a bit of a quiet year.

"We saw at the weekend Chris Bridge’s influence, he's a threat, and Joe Mellor’s confidence growing in his own ability, Chris Dean had a fantastic game - and Corey demands the ball.

"He lets people know he wants it.

"So what we have now is a line of communication and a few more demanding players on that right edge and that is helping both Joe and Kevin Brown because we have threats on both sides now."

Vikings' game on Thursday kicks off at 8pm and is being televised.