Hull face Wigan, relegated Leigh travel to
Giants, D-Day for Widnes

Cooke taking no risks

Loose forward Paul Cooke will not be risked in Hull?s engage Super League match against Wigan as he prepares to make his return in the Powergen Challenge Cup final next week.

The 24-year-old playmaker has recovered from a freak eye injury sustained in Hull?s home defeat by London Broncos 11 days ago which threatened to leave him with permanent damage and force him out of the biggest match of his career next weekend.

Cooke said: ?There is no more bleeding or fluid in the eye, so I will back to full training tomorrow and mentally preparing for Leeds.

?I?ll sit out this week as an extra precaution. But if the final was this Saturday I would probably play - and I?ll be raring to go after two weeks off.?

Stand-off Richard Horne will also sit out Sunday?s game with a minor elbow injury, which means 17-year-old Tommy Lee keeps his place after making an impressive debut in last week?s win over Leigh, but back row forward Chris Chester is back to push for a place in the Cup final squad.

?Chris is playing this week and, should he come through without any reaction, obviously he will be under consideration. We will be virtually at full strength,? added Kear.

Hull winger Richie Barnett (foot) misses out but utility man Peter Lupton is the club?s only long-term absentee with a shoulder injury.

Hull v Wigan, KC Stadium, Sunday August 21

Hull 18-man: Briscoe, Blacklock, Raynor, Dowes, Swain, McMenemy, Kearney, Tony, Thackray, Saxton, Chester, Higgins, Brough, McNicholas, G. Horne, Whiting, Lee, Wheeldon.

Wigan 18-man: Dallas, Carney, Vaealiki, Brown, Aspinwall, Coyle, Moran, Seu Seu, Newton, Hargreaves, Wild, Tomkins, Tickle, Allen, Beswick, Sculthorpe, Hansen, Orr.

Referee: K Kirkpatrick

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De Vere poised for return

Australian goalkicking Test centre Michael De Vere is set to make his comeback from a broken hand in play-off chasing Huddersfield?s engage Super League match against relegated Leigh at the Galpharm Stadium on Sunday.

The 28-year-old former Brisbane Broncos star has missed the last seven matches but has been named in coach Jon Sharp?s squad after making a quicker-than-expected recovery.

?I?m pretty confident I?ll play,? he said. ?If everything goes to plan, it will be a huge bonus because my return is ahead of schedule.

?The doctor originally told me that the injury would take 12 weeks to heal but, if I play this weekend, it will be nine.?

Huddersfield v Leigh, Galpharm Stadium, Sunday August 21

Huddersfield 18-man: O'Hare, De Vere, Thorman, March, Drew, Nero, Gene, S. Jones, Morrison, Smith, Crabtree, Grayshon, White, Jackson, Fagborun, McDonald, Greenwood, St Hilaire.

Leigh 18-man: Maden, Owen, Cooper, Jackson, Smyth, Wilshere, Forber, Fleary, Rowley, Sturm, Stapleton, Leafa, Kent, Coleman, Mears, Stevens, J. Duffy, Marshall.

Referee: I Smith

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Widnes and Warrington announce squads

Widnes will be confirmed in 11th place and almost certain relegation if they fail to beat Warrington at the Halton Stadium.

Salford's 37-0 win over Wakefield on Friday night left the Vikings with no more room to manoeuvre but coach Frank Endacott has vowed to keep fighting until their fate has been sealed.

"We're not relegated yet and, if and when we are in that position, we will make sure we bow out with grace and dignity," he said.

"The players have been talking about how much they are looking forward to playing Warrington and won't need any motivation. It's a big derby."

Widnes did the double over the Wolves last season, wins which ultimately kept them in Super League, and lost by just a point in last month's derby, results not lost on Warrington's ever-present full-back Brent Grose.

"Every game against them this season has been really hard," he said. "They are never easy and this game is not going to be easy as they will be fighting for their lives. It will be a tough one."

Warrington are boosted by the return of captain Lee Briers, who has recovered from a thigh strain, as they look to end a three-match losing run.

Widnes v Warrington, The Halton Stadium, Sunday August 21

Widnes 20-man: Connolly, Emelio, Hughes, Myler, J. O?Neill, Cassidy, Finnigan, Hulse, Whitaker, Frame, Mills, Fa-alogo, Smith, Holmes, Nash, Viane, Alcock, J. O?Neill, Watts, Kerr.

Warrington 20-man: Grose, Fa?afili, Martin Gleeson, Kohe-Love, Briers, N. Wood, Leikvoll, Clarke, Hilton, Swann, Wainwright, Noone, Mark Gleeson, Westwood, P. Wood, Lima, Appo, Pickersgill, Bridge, Riley.

Referee: R Silverwood

Thanks to www.superleague.co.uk for the above previews.