Castleford v Wigan preview
Castleford centre Jake Webster says the Tigers are hunting Wigan's top-four spot as they prepare to welcome Shaun Wane's side to The Jungle.
Stunning back-to-back victories over reigning champions Leeds and table-toppers Warrington have re-ignited Castleford's play-off charge and brought the fourth-placed Warriors into their sights.
"I said at the start of the year that top eight is not good enough, you've got to be pushing for that top four to have any chance at the big cup at the end of the year," Webster said.
"It's still in our hands. We've got Wigan this week and, if we can knock them off, it brings us two points closer and they'll only be three in front of us."
The Tigers looked anything but top-four material a month ago after slumping to a 58-16 home defeat by lowly Hull KR, but a thumping 52-12 win over the Rhinos at Headingley turned their season around and they came from 14-0 down to knock the Wolves off top spot with a 34-14 triumph at the Magic Weekend.
Webster admits those victories have sent confidence soaring through the side and warns there is more to come from Daryl Powell's men.
"We're not the finished product, there are definitely a lot of things we've got to work on," he said. "Playing for 80 minutes is one of them, we can't play for 50 minutes against a side like Wigan who are very methodical in what they do.
"Confidence is up there for sure but we're not getting too far ahead of ourselves. We've got a big challenge this week against a team that's sitting in the top four and coming off a big win."
Wigan coach Shaun Wane was impressed by the Tigers' performance at St James' Park and is acutely aware of their strengths at The Jungle, where his side lost 42-14 in the corresponding fixture last season which he described as "the worst day of my coaching career by far".
"They had a slow start to the season but they were the best team of the weekend," Wane said. "They can beat anyone at home and score tries from anywhere.
"It's a small ground and they use it well. We've altered the size of the pitch at the training ground to emphasise it to the players. "We didn't play well there last year so I'm looking for a positive reaction to that."
Castleford boss Powell is hoping rampaging forward Junior Moors can continue his remarkable form from the last two matches after finally settling into Super League.
"It took him a while last year to slot in to the English game but his confidence has grown," Powell said. "He's got a really broad skills set and he's a big man as well. He adds a real touch of class to our play on the edges."
Castleford Tigers: Luke Dorn, Joel Monaghan, Jake Webster, Denny Solomona, Luke Gale, Adam Milner, Grant Millington, Mike McMeeken, Lee Jewitt, Paul McShane, Matt Cook, Junior Moors, Ryan Hampshire, Lee Crooks, Gadwin Springer, Will Maher, Larne Patrick, Danny Tickle, Paddy Flynn.
Wigan Warriors: John Bateman, Joe Bretherton, Greg Burke, Josh Charnley, Dom Crosby, Ben Flower, Oliver Gildart, Willie Isa, Dom Manfredi, Lee Mossop, Sam Powell, Dan Sarginson, Matty Smith, Ryan Sutton, Taulima Tautai, Lewis Tierney, Joel Tomkins, Sam Tomkins, George Williams.
