Celtic Crusaders v Widnes Vikings preview

Celtic Crusaders v Widnes Vikings (Thurs) CO-OPERATIVE NATIONAL LEAGUE ONE Venue: Brewery Field, Bridgend Date: Thursday, 26 June Kick-off: 1930 BST LIVE ON SKY SPORTS

Celtic Crusaders are looking for their third successive win over Widnes Vikings this Thursday evening at the Brewery Field (kick-off 7.30pm) when they take on the Cheshire side in a live Sky Sports Co-operative National League One clash.

A win for the Crusaders will lift them, at least temporarily, to joint top of the league with Halifax, who travel to Salford City Reds on Friday.

The Crusaders are in fine form with five wins in the last six games and they take on a Widnes side who will be revitalised following their 20-18 win over then league leaders Salford.

Before that victory, the Vikings had suffered five defeats in their previous seven games, including the two against the Crusaders, but their new Super League loan signings Ste Tyrer and Matty Smith both shined against the Reds, with Tyrer scoring two tries and Smith organising well from scrum-half. Both of these players can be considered to be danger men for the visitors on Thursday night.

However the Vikings will be unable to select their other loan signing Adel Fellous who is in the French squad to face England in Toulouse on Friday.

Fellous is the only player missing from the Salford win with Dayne Donoghue, Danny Hill and Scott Yates added to a 19-man squad named by Vikings coach Steve McCormack on Wednesday.

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