Round 26 -
Sunday Game Previews

Warrington v Salford, Leigh v St Helens, and Wakefield v Widnes.

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Warrington can leapfrog Challenge Cup winners Hull into fourth place if they beat Salford at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

The Wolves? Grand Final hopes looked to be wearing thin after three defeats in a row but they returned to winning ways against Widnes a fortnight ago and, with Andrew Johns due to link up with them next week for the last two League matches and the play-offs, there is a renewed sense of optimism at the club.

"I think it was just a hiccup with having Lee Briers out and changing the partnership around," said winger Henry Fa?afili, the club?s leading tryscorer. "But I feel Widnes was the turning point."

Warrington duo Dean Gaskell and Mike Wainwright have failed to recover from injury in time to face Salford.

Gaskell is still sidelined with the groin injury he sustained against London in July and Wainwright is ruled out with a foot injury picked up in the clash with Huddersfield last month.

Graham Appo is also out with a shoulder injury and will be de-registered to allow Johns to make his Warrington debut in Round 27 against Leeds Rhinos.

Warrington Wolves v Salford City Reds, Halliwell Jones Stadium, Sunday September 4

Warrington 18-man: Grose, Fa'afili, Martin Gleeson, Kohe-Love, Briers, N. Wood, Leikvoll, Clarke, Hilton, Swann, Noone, Mark Gleeson, Westwood, P. Wood, Lima, Bracek, Bridge, Riley.

Salford 18-man: Hodgson, Littler, McAvoy, Fitzpatrick, Beverley, Robinson, Jonkers, Alker, Langi, Coley, Stewart, Charles, Brocklehurst, Haggerty, Baldwin, Highton, Sibbit, Clough.

Referee: I Smith

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New Leigh coach Tony Benson will be up against his mentor when he watches his side in action for the first time against engage Super League title-chasers St Helens on Sunday.

The 38-year-old Benson, who has been Junior Kiwi coach for the last three seasons, has the chance to pit his wit against Daniel Anderson, who up to taking over at Saints four months ago, was in charge of the New Zealand national side.

The Centurions board consulted with Anderson before giving the job to Benson, who admits: "Daniel has had a big influence on my career."

Benson, appointed only two days ago to succeed Darren Abram, will adopt a largely backseat role on Sunday, having left the preparation of the team in the hands of caretaker coach Tommy Martyn, but he will at least gain an idea of the size of the task facing him.

The match at Hilton Park pits the team with the best current run against the side with the worst record in Super League. Saints have gone 12 League matches without defeat, whereas the Centurions have lost their last 14 matches, including a Challenge Cup tie at Hull.

Benson knows he has a difficult job rebuilding the club following their briefest of stays in Super League but he lacks nothing in confidence.

"I am under no illusion about the task to get them back into the top flight but from what I have seen and heard, they are a club determined to fight back and I am delighted that I have been given chance to use my experience and skills to help them do that," he said.

St Helens have the opportunity to open up a three-point lead over Leeds following the Rhinos? 24-22 defeat at Wigan on Friday night.

Leigh are set to give a Super League debut to academy centre or second rower Chris Hill as well as a home debut to scrum-half Carl Forber, who is on loan from St Helens.

Stand-off Jason Kent is ruled out but John Duffy returns after a three-match absence.

Former Leigh hooker Mick Higham plays his first match for three months after recovering from a foot injury but Saints are without loose forward Vinnie Anderson (leg) and prop Mark Edmondson (shoulder).

Leigh Centurions v St Helens, The Coliseum, Sunday September 4

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

St Helens 18-man: Wellens, Albert, Lyon, Talau, Gardner, Hooper, Long, Fozzard, Cunningham, P. Anderson, Gilmour, Bennett, Roby, Higham, Graham, Fa?asavalu, Hardman, Mason.

Referee: K Kirkpatrick

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Wakefield are set to give a debut to former Leeds winger Austin Buchanan, who has joined them on loan from York.

Forwards Mark Applegarth and Steve Snitch are also added to the squad as the Wildcats look to end a three-match losing run.

Relegated Widnes have no more injury worries and coach Frank Endacott has added full-back Tim Holmes and winger Stephen Rowlands to the squad that lost to Warrington a fortnight ago.

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats v Widnes Vikings, The Atlantic Solutions Stadium, Sunday September 4

Wakefield 18-man: Halpenny, Wainwright, Domic, Tadulala, Jeffries, Griffin, March, Korkidas, Solomona, J. Field, Spicer, Obst , Wrench, MacGillivray, Elima, Feather, Henderson, Buchanan.

Widnes 18-man: Connolly, Emelio, Hughes, Myler, J. O'Neill, Cassidy, Finnigan, Whitaker, Frame, Mills, Rowlands, Smith, Holmes, Nash, Viane, J. O'Neill, Watts, Kerr.

Referee: J King

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Thanks to www.superleague.co.uk for these articles.