WIDNES Vikings look set to be bolstered by returning players against Sheffield Eagles at Halton Stadium on Friday, kick off 7.45pm.
Jay Chapelhow, Jack Owens, Macgraff Leuluai and Jayden Hatton come into the 19-man squad and could give head coach Kieron Purtill a timely boost as his side seek to arrest a run of three defeats.
Owen Farnworth, Sam Freeman and Lloyd Roby drop out of the 19-man squad, while Anthony Gelling and Ollie Ashall-Bott remain sidelined for the clash with the fifth-placed Championship side who are looking to get back on track themselves after a 42-16 home defeat to Toronto Wolfpack at the weekend.
Leuluai has been struggling for a number of weeks with Achilles tendonitis but that must have settled down this week for him to come into contention
“Gels and Ollie have both started running," said Vikings head coach Kieron Purtill.
"But we need to make sure they’re not just fit to train but fit to play - and there’s a slight difference in that because what we can’t afford at this stage is for those guys to come back for a game and then miss another two or three games.
“Jay Chapelhow didn’t quite make the weekend after picking up a bit of a dead leg the previous week.
“Jack Owens will be back from his ban so it’ll be good to have him.”
Following the loss to Leigh at the Summer Bash, Purtill made changes in the home loss to York.
Freeman was brought in at full back, with Ryan Ince returning from injury on the right wing.
Joe Lyons replaced Tom Gilmore in the scrum-half role and trialist Josh Ganson was handed a first start at dummy-half with the versatile Jordan Johnstone packing down at loose forward.
Dan Norman came in on the bench.
Purtill felt his reshaped side battled well against City Knights but were not quite at the standard required, like in the kicking game, with some combinations, with their discipline and in their execution after creating chances that were not taken.
“Nobody’s going to come in and magically help us. We can’t bring any players in,” he said.
“It’s down to us to fix things up, keep working hard and tidy our discipline up – probably be 10 percent better in a lot of little areas.
“And we’ve got to do it quickly as well because the games are coming fast over these next two weeks and the end of the season soon catches you up as well.
“We know we’ve got to win some games. I’m happy with the way we’re trying, we just need to add that polish to the end of it.
“We’re not a million miles off but we’re not quite where we need to be at the moment.”
Vikings will be at home again in the Championship on Sunday, June 9, when Barrow will be in town.
They will begin their 1895 Cup journey with a second-round home clash against Featherstone Rovers on Wednesday (June 5).
Vikings 19:
24. Keanan Brand
22. Owen Buckley
13. Hep Cahill
8. Jay Chapelhow
18. Ted Chapelhow
6. Danny Craven
12. Chris Dean
34. Josh Ganson
7. Tom Gilmore
11. Harrison Hansen
29. Jayden Hatton
2. Ryan Ince
15. Jordan Johnstone
16. MacGraff Leuluai
21. Joe Lyons
26. Dan Norman
5. Jack Owens
19. Brad Walker
17. Sam Wilde
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