1:10pm Thursday 10th June 2010
VIKINGS face last Thursday’s vanquished Northern Rail Cup opponents on Sunday with Barrow making a swift return to the Stobart Stadium.
And the team will be looking to use the feelgood factor emanating from the hard work they put in ahead of last week’s victory to give them a springboard to propel them up the league table.
Widnes’s post Easter slump saw them slip to sixth in the Championship table, but victory on Sunday would see them swap places with the fourth-placed Cumbrians.
It is likely that Vikings’ line-up will be different to that which triumphed last week, with a question mark over Jordan James, who had such an outstanding game in the win over Barrow that his parent club immediately recalled him and he played in Crusaders’ game on Sunday.
Dual registration player Ben Davies, who had a great game at the weekend can be recalled by Wigan at any moment.
On the plus side wingman Shaun Ainscough and Richard Varkulis are both available after suspension.
Barrow will be playing their third game in 11 days – but Vikings coach Paul Cullen believes that could make the Cumbrians a more dangerous proposition to deal with.
He said: “Sometimes it can work for you, sometimes it can count against you.
“If you look at the way Batley played when they played four in 12 days – their training sessions were the games and did not do much between games.
“The games became intense sessions and that really hardened them for when they came here virtually at full strength and beat us.
“Barrow will do exactly the same – they won’t have done much between playing us on Thursday and then Whitehaven on Tuesday to Sunday against us.
“If they are fortunate not to pick up any injuries their players will come in fast and hard to the contact.”
Even though loan signing Chaz I’Anson pulled up in the first half of Thursday’s win, Cullen believes the side still felt the benefit of his presence due to the extra training session they put in.
Cullen said: “His presence takes a weight off Anthony Thackeray, who I thought played very well because somebody else is calling plays and holding a shape and structure.
“Chris Gerrard, who was down to rotate at nine or 13, played three-quarters of the game at stand off.
“His defence was great and the way he controlled was good.”
Skipper Dave Allen is still playing his way back in after a serious ankle injury, again put in a valuable stint.
Cullen said: “Dave was great but we had to give him a couple of spells – but his contribution was significant both on and off the field. You can see he is just getting back to where he was before he got injured.”
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.runcornandwidnesworld.co.uk/trade_directory/