WIDNES Vikings' lofty position at the top of Super League will face a monumental challenge on Thursday night when they travel to a Wigan Warriors side unbeaten on their own midden for two years.

The match is the start of a run of four matches which will test how far the rejuvenated Vikings have come, but it is one coach Denis Betts says his side are excited about.

It comes as a great time for a Vikings side boasting a handful of ex-Warriors players, especially as halves Kevin Brown and Joe Mellor, plus wing Stef Marsh, are currently playing out of their skins.

Betts, who enjoyed a glittering career at Wigan and coached them briefly, rates his former club has being the most consistent in the competition for the past four years.

He said: "Wigan have an impressive record. Make no mistake, this is an exciting night for us because of our confidence and the way we are playing .

"But also it is the challenge – Wigan, a team who have been the most consistent in Super League for the last three or four years.

"They have played in the last three Grand Finals, won trophies and not lost at home for two years. That is the massive challenge for us now.

"Wigan's effort and energy is fantastic and so we will have to step up again and match a side of that calibre.

"Wigan are the only side in the competition that goes 80 minutes - there is not let up in their intensity and and running as hard in the last two minutes as they are in the first.

"It is really hard to find a chink in the Wigan armour."

Widnes have gleaned experience from past visits, and that sense of being over-awed by the occasion is no longer there.

This week's camp as seen anticipation bubbling, particularly after the pack passed its physical challenge against Hull FC.

"The lads are excited for the challenge and want it already," he said

"DW Stadium is a fantastic place to play rugby league, although we have had plenty of lads who have had some hard days there, they have also had some good days, over there and at our place.

"We know our levels have got to go up, but that is the challenge this year.

"That is what we have set ourselves this year on how hard we can perform."

Betts revealed that Chris Bridge has suffered a nerve problem in his neck was seeing a specialist. He was hopeful that it would not be a long term issue, and was 80 per cent sure it would be no more than one or two weeks.

In his absence, on-song Chris Dean will slot into the centres while Setaimata Sa will return into the back row.

Vikings' 19-man: Kevin Brown, Hep Cahill, Chris Dean, Gil Dudson, Alex Gerrard, Tom Gilmore, Rhys Hanbury, Aaron Heremaia, Chris Houston, Macgraff Leuluai, Manase Manuokafoa, Stefan Marsh, Joe Mellor, Eamon O’Carroll, Charly Runciman, Setaimata Sa, Corey Thompson, Lloyd White, Matt Whitley.