Wigan v Hull preview
Wigan have the chance to turn up the pressure on Leeds when they host injury-ravaged Hull at the DW Stadium in the Super 8s on Friday night.
A third successive win for the Warriors, unbeaten at home in the league for more than 12 months, would enable them to draw level with the Rhinos, who have a superior points difference but face a tricky away game against Catalans Dragons on Saturday.
There are two more rounds left before the semi-final line-up is confirmed and Wigan coach Shaun Wane has not given up hope of overhauling the table-toppers, who remain favourites to add the league leaders' shield and Grand Final trophy to their Challenge Cup success.
"It won't be an easy trip for Leeds going over there [to Perpignan], but they're a champion team," said Wane.
"That's out of my control, I'll just make sure my team are prepared for Hull and, if we can put some pressure on Leeds, then great.
"If we don't get it [top spot] in the end, we won't have deserved it. The one thing I want is a real, good professional performance on Friday going into the St Helens game the week after."
Hull, who are battling to avoid finishing bottom of the Super 8s, are without 12 senior players through injury and coach Lee Radford, who has been able to name just 18 players in his initial squad, could hand Super League debuts to Masimbaashe Matongo and Ross Osborne in a team with an average age of 21.
Wigan, on the other hand, are virtually at full strength, with the return of winger Joe Burgess leaving only second rower Liam Farrell and centre Dan Sarginson on the sidelines.
Home fans might be expecting their team to give their points difference a timely boost, but Wane is anticipating a tough battle.
"I'm expecting them to be competitive," Wane said. "I know people are saying they've not much to play for but Lee Radford will have his players motivated to come to our place and have a real dig.
"So we'll not be complacent, we'll show them the respect they deserve. They've got too many good individuals in their team to not turn up. Every time we play them, it's a very physical game. "I know Lee very well and I know he won't allow his team to lie down. We're expecting a real strong team."
Wane is set to recall centre Anthony Gelling alongside teenager Oliver Gildart, who will make a third successive appearance after impressing the coach, who is determined not to over-play him.
"I'm really impressed with how he's handed it physically," Wane said. "But my experience with young players is there will come a time when they will fall off the end of a cliff and I need to see when that's coming.
"He's done outstandingly well and I'm very pleased with him, but he's still two years off being a regular, although he's done better than I expected. "We're also happy with John Bateman, so whichever way I go, I'm looking at picking a fairly strong team.
"It breeds a strong competition for places and we're getting to some really important games now. "The players understand how it's important that they perform in every single game."
Wigan Warriors: John Bateman, Matty Bowen, Joe Burgess, Josh Charnley, Tony Clubb, Dom Crosby, Ben Flower, Anthony Gelling, Oliver Gildart, Dom Manfredi, Michael McIlorum, Lee Mossop, Sean O¹Loughlin, Larne Patrick, Sam Powell, Matty Smith, Taulima Tautai, Joel Tomkins, George Williams.
Hull FC: Jordan Abdull, Jack Downs, Brad Fash, Dean Hadley, Danny Houghton, Tom Lineham, Jack Logan, Masimbashe Matongo, Mark Minichiello, Curtis Naughton, Ross Osborne, Mickey Paea, Iafeta Palea'aesina, Jordan Rankin, Jamie Shaul, Marc Sneyd, Jansin Turgut, Liam Watts.
