12:34pm Thursday 11th February 2010
By Mike Critchley
IT may be Valentine’s Day, but there will be no love lost at the Stobart Stadium on Sunday when Vikings welcome champions Barrow.
The repeat of last year’s toe-to-toe Northern Rail Cup Final is sure to be a humdinger.
And with former Vikings coach Steve McCormack now in charge of the ambitious Cumbrians there will be even more spice in what is always a tasty encounter.
A win and a draw from Vikings’ opening two games means that a victory from either of their last two games should put them into the knockout stages of the trophy they won so memorably last season.
Vikings coach Paul Cullen is under no illusions that maximum points will not come easy on Sunday.
He said: “Barrow are tough and have strengthened their side. We know when they come to Widnes they have a point to prove and saw that on a number of times last year.
“We played them four times last year but we won the one that mattered.
“We know we have to improve on last week to compete with them, let alone beat them.”
Cullen has hooker Thomas Coyle back in contention for a bench spot after missing the trip to Batley through suspension.
Centre Toa Kohe-Love, who was injured last summer and pulled up warming up in the pre-season game against Saints, came through his return game at Batley unscathed.
“It was Toa’s first hit out with the team since August. His time running and training with the team has been non-existent – and he will be better for the run,” Cullen said.
The Barrow match may just come a week too early for Richard Varkulis and Gareth Haggerty, who are due back in mainstream training.
Dual registration St Helens centre Chris Dean is out with a shoulder problem- although had he been fit he would have been required at Saints, who have three-quarter injury concerns at the moment With the recent signing of Wigan players Liam Farrell and Shaun Ainscough on dual registration deals and Ben Davies on a three-month loan period, Cullen now believes his squad is looking complete to do a job in 2010.
Cullen added: “The four in and the players we have already got is a reasonable squad for this division.
“I am hoping it is a good enough squad to come up with the goods when needed.
“Ainscough looks to be an accomplished athlete and the three Wigan lads have brought a very professional attitude.
“They want to be here at Widnes and have been well received by the rest of the squad and made a big effort to be part of it.
“I have not yet finalised what is my best 13 or 17 players and that is a good position to be in.”
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