CAN Warrington Wolves become the first visiting team to leave the Brick Community Stadium with two points in more than a year?
Not since May of last year have Wigan Warriors been beaten on home soil - a run stretching back 17 matches - and tomorrow, Sam Burgess' side will be the latest to attack that proud record.
If they can manage it, they will move joint-top of the Super League table and with third-place Hull KR hosting rock-bottom London Broncos, the prospect of a three-team logjam at the summit by the end of Round 19 exists.
Ahead of the game, our Wire reporter Matt Turner has picked out five key pre-match talking points surrounding Warrington's build-up to the game...
A chance to send belief through the roof
One down, two to go…
This mini-run of big games Warrington Wolves are on should help condition them for what is to come in the play-offs. They’ve started it well, but can they carry it on?
The way in which they won at St Helens last week – defying the adversity of being reduced to 12 men and even 11 for a period to pick up the win – should serve to increase confidence both in the dressing room and on the terraces.
If they can do the same here – hopefully in less dramatic fashion – and end a run of seven consecutive losses against their other neighbours, that confidence will soar.
Over to you, lads…
How much is left in the tank?
Given the circumstances of last week, it is a natural question to ask.
The Wire defence was dragged this way and that by a Saints side desperate to make use of their extra man but for the vast majority of the time, they came up with the answers before finding an unlikely second wind to secure victory late on.
However, you have to wonder how much that effort has taken out of the players physically.
All reports are that they have been energised in training this week, but we will certainly find out for sure on Friday night in a game where only their best is likely to be good enough.
How fit are Wire’s returning quartet?
The 21-man squad Sam Burgess has been able to name for Friday’s game certainly looks a lot stronger on paper.
The loss of James Harrison and Stefan Ratchford are undoubted blows, but the fact four players who have been injured in the short-term are fit enough to be in consideration to play.
At least one of Toby King, Josh Thewlis, Lachlan Fitzgibbon and Jordy Crowther will be involved in the final 17 and even if it is only one, it will help no end.
With Ratchford’s injury further stretching things in the outside backs, either King or Thewlis – or even both – being able to return would perhaps be the biggest bonus for Burgess.
With an equally big game against Hull KR coming up next week, however, the Wire boss has risks to balance.
Not going anywhere
As well as Fitzgibbon’s return to contention, the impending arrival of John Bateman looks set to reduce Adam Holroyd’s involvement with the first team.
That is, of course, no slight on him and how he’s played, with Burgess often stressing of his preference to avoid over-exposing the young back-rower and burning him out.
As the 19-year-old said in the press earlier this week, however, he is determined to take any chance he gets and Friday night will be no different.
Bateman’s arrival is a short-term measure, but Holroyd is the future of Warrington Wolves and given how he has played since breaking into the first team, that future is a bright one.
On Friday, in the kind of games in which Warrington players and coaches are ultimately judged, he will get another chance to show that.
The best or worst time to play Wigan?
Warrington fans could be forgiven for thinking their third meeting of the year with their nearest and dearest has come at just the right time.
And it’s true that, on the face of things, Wigan are perhaps as vulnerable now than they have been at any point in their recent period of dominance.
With star duo Bevan French and Jai Field both out injured and having lost surprisingly to lowly Hull FC at the weekend, is it any wonder people are starting to think their crown is in danger of slipping?
What can be said for certain, however, is that Matt Peet will ensure any such notions are used as motivation and he simply will not allow for two poor displays in succession.
Despite the absence of Field and French, Wire can be assured of facing a highly-driven Wigan side that is pretty much at full-strength in every other area of the field.
So while it may possibly be the best time to face the Warriors, it may also be the worst.
> What Wigan Warriors head coach Matt Peet has said about facing Warrington Wolves
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