ON-SONG Vikings wing Pat Ah Van will be out for the rest the 2017 season after snapping his Achilles in Sunday's Challenge Cup defeat at Warrington.

But there is more positive news on Widnes's other casualties for the weekend.

Coach Denis Betts classed half back Joe Mellor as "ok - touch wood" after he had been forced off with a tight quad muscle on Sunday.

And Aaron Heremaia, who took a clout to the jaw, has been cleared to play.

Hooker Lloyd White, too, has been passed fit and is back in the squad that is well-blessed at nine given the displays of youngster Danny Walker and Jordan Johnstone.

It is less rosy for Chris Bridge, who did not pass his concussion test on Sunday and Tom Olbison is a 70:30 doubt with a dead leg.

Chris Houston returns, and Warrington on-loan players Sam Wilde and Jack Johnson come into the reckoning.

Betts was particularly disappointed with the Ah Van news and he said: "Pat has been outstanding. He got himself back fit. Once he plays regularly you know you are going to get some quality out of him and he showed that in the couple of tries he scored last week against Hull. What he does when he catches the ball and carries, as well as scoring tries.

"I feel for Pat as much as I feel for the team. Snapping your Achilles is one hell of an injury to occur for a winger."

Betts revealed that Charly Runciman was his only fit centre, with the problem worse on the wing.

Johnson comes in on the wing and Ryan Ince, who was cup tied last week, is back in the mix with Ed Chamberlain coming back in from his loan spell.

Vikings play seventh-placed Wakefield in Saturday's Magic encounter at Newcastle.

"We just need the fans to keep supporting us.

"It is a long way from being over, there is lots to play for.

"It gives us a boost when you look at the league table and see where points are being taken - we are still within striking distance of the teams on 11 points if we can get a couple of wins together," he said.