Bulls, Warrington and Widnes all
seeking home wins

Official English Super League Round 21 previews -Sunday games. Bradford v Leigh, Warrington v London and Widnes v Wakefield

Bradford take on Leigh

Bradford Bulls, who have drawn one and lost two of their last three matches, are seeking to avoid going four matches without a win for the first time in Super League when they play the Centurions. Leigh can only afford three more defeats if they are to pull off the great escape but Bradford coach Brian Noble knows his side are in no position to under-estimate their visitors. "They will have looked at the way we played last week and fancy their chances," he said. "If they are relegated, then they will want as many points as possible and they would be delighted if the Bulls name was on the list of their scalps. "Leigh have a good work ethic and they will be fired up for this game. They are very much an in-your-face team and we have to cope with that." The Bulls will be missing New Zealand international threequarters Lesley Vainikolo and Shontayne Hape. Centre Hape has not played this year after undergoing major knee surgery for an injury sustained in last year?s Tri-Nations Series while blockbusting winger Vainikolo has missed the last six matches with a knee strain. Loose forward Lee Radford is also ruled out with a broken bone in his hand.

Bradford have drawn one and lost two of their last three matches, their worst run since the centenary season of 1995-96. John Wilshere misses his third match of the season for Leigh because of a stomach bug but centre Danny Halliwell has recovered from a heavy head knock to keep his place in the team. Chris Jones, a loan signing from St Helens, also keeps his place after making an encouraging debut in last week?s defeat at Huddersfield. Bradford v Leigh, Odsal Stadium, Sunday July 17 Bradford 18-man: Pratt, Deacon, Vagana, Fielden, I. Harris, B. Harris, Johnson, Lynch, Withers, Parker, L. Pryce, Peacock, K. Pryce, Henderson, Langley, Hape, Reardon, Meyers. Leigh 18-man: Cooper, J. Duffy, Fleary, Govin, P. Jones, Kent, Wilkes, Leafa, Marshall, Rowley, Smyth, Stapleton, Sturm, Stevens, Mears, C. Jones, Halliwell, Wilshere. Referee: A Klein

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London hoping to extend unbeaten run to 8 matches

Warrington and London do battle at the Halliwell Jones Stadium and the Broncos are on a high after their stunning 32-24 win over champions Leeds in Perpignan and will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to eight matches, despite the absence of leading tryscorer Luke Dorn.

Warrington?s own impressive run came to an abrupt end at Wigan a week ago and coach Paul Cullen, whose side lost to the Broncos in the opening match of the season, is anticipating another tough fixture.

"We expect the Broncos to be as competent as they were six months ago," said Cullen. "They have recruited a lot of very experienced NRL players who have made a massive impact on the way the Broncos play this year in comparison to last."

The Wolves are still without stand-off Lee Briers (thigh) and prop Mark Hilton (back) for their engage Super League clash with London Broncos while centre Toa Kohe Love (chest) is also missing but utility back Graham Appo is set to return.

London are without leading tryscorer Luke Dorn, who loses his ever-present record after sustaining a ?dead leg? in last week?s win over Leeds.

Winger Jon Wells and back row forward Danny Williams return from injury and coach Tony Rea also included prop Francis Stephenson and full-back Zeb Luisi in his initial squad.

Warrington Wolves v London Broncos, The Halliwell Jones Stadium, Sunday July 17 2005

Warrington 18-man: Grose, Fa'afili, Martin Gleeson, Gaskell, N. Wood, Leikvoll, Clarke, Hilton, Swann, Wainwright, Noone, Mark Gleeson, Westwood, P. Wood, Lima, Appo, Pickersgill, Bridge.

London 18-man: Armour, Bradley-Qalilawa, Haumono, Hopkins, Leuluai, Lolohea, Mateo, McLinden, Mbu, O'Halloran, Purdham, Smith, Sykes, Tookey, Trindall, Wells, Williams, Highton.

Referee: I Smith

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Huge match at the bottom of the table

Widnes coach Frank Endacott believes jobs are on the line in Sunday?s win-at-all-costs clash with Wakefield at the Halton Stadium.

Defeat for the Vikings would leave them five points behind Wakefield at the bottom end of the engage Super League and, with just seven matches left after tomorrow, Endacott believes that would be an unbridgeable gap.

"Where there?s breath, there?s life, but if we got the worst result on Sunday, I would say we would need a miracle to stay up," he said. "We?ve five wins and a draw in 20 games and now we?ve to win five of the last eight to survive. It?s going to be a tough job."

Endacott, who helped Widnes survive on the final day of last season, is pulling no punches with his players on the eve of arguably the biggest match in the club?s history.

"We?re all under pressure," he said. "There?s no use trying to put kid gloves on them.

"The fact is that it?s their livelihoods and those of the people at the stadium that are on the line. They know what the stakes are and, if they can?t respond to that challenge, they never will.

"But I?m confident they will respond after seeing the mood in training. I think reality has hit home."

Endacott was tempted to ring the changes following last week?s 34-16 defeat at Salford but suffered another blow with the loss of chief playmaker Owen Craigie with a knee injury.

"I considered making changes but then I looked at our injury situation and I realised we?ll have to go in with a similar line-up," he said.

"The good thing is we beat this team at their place last time, now they?re coming to our place.

"We?ve got eight games left and five of them are at home. If we get over this one, we will be in real good heart for Hull and then we get a week?s break."

Endacott has identified Wildcats second rower David Solomona, a fellow New Zealander, as the chief dangerman.

The ball-handling Solomona, who this week pledged his future to the Wakefield club by signing a new three-year contract, has been a sensation in Super League, which is no surprise to the former Kiwi Test boss.

"I know more about Solomona than he knows about himself," said Endacott. "Super League suits his style. He is their main attacking weapon and their two halves work off his offloads.

"He does come up with mistakes, though, and we?ve got to be good enough to put him under pressure."

Widnes are boosted by the return of Australian centre Aaron Moule for their home engage Super League meeting with Wakefield.

Moule scored 10 tries in the Vikings? opening 14 matches but has not played for two months because of an ankle injury.

Adam Hughes and Stephen Myler are also available but stand-off Owen Craigie is out with a knee injury.

Wakefield are expected to field the team that completed the double over Bradford but coach Tony Smith has added Chris Feather, Michael Wainwright and Rob Spicer to the squad.

Widnes Vikings v Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, The Halton Stadium, Sunday July 17 2005

Widnes 18-man: Emelio, Myler, O?Connor, Millard, J. O?Neill, Cassidy, Stankevitch, Finnigan, Hulse, Whitaker, Frame, Mills, Fa-alogo, Smith, Whittle, Holmes, Viane, J. O?Neill.

Wakefield 18-man: Halpenny, Wainwright, Demetriou, Domic, Tadulala, Rooney, Jeffries, Griffin, March, Korkidas, Solomona, J. Field, Obst , Snitch, MacGillivray, Elima, Wrench, Feather.

Referee: S P Ganson

Many thanks to www.superleague.co.uk for the above previews