Warrington Wolves talking points before London Broncos visit

For both Warrington Wolves and London Broncos, there is plenty on the line ahead of their Round 27 clash at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

While The Wire are likely to finish third, second place - along with the week off and home semi-final that comes with it - remains on the table and for London, the prospect of avoiding bottom spot is very much on.

Here, our Wire reporter Matt Turner picks out five key pre-match talking points surrounding the game...

Burgess shuns self-preservation

We all saw the Salford squad named for tonight’s trip to Wigan earlier in the week and it certainly made waves, especially in East Hull.

Paul Rowley’s decision to rest everybody and pretty much hand the Warriors the League Leaders’ Shield was certainly eyebrow-raising, particularly given they could end up ceding home advantage in the eliminator round as a result.

Would anybody have blamed Sam Burgess for taking a similar route? Given their hopes of catching Hull KR in second are very much out of their hands, the answer to that is probably not.

However, the only change to the Wire 21 is an enforced one with Rodrick Tai succumbing to an ankle injury, while Matt Dufty being being brought back for the game following knee surgery when nobody expected to see him before the play-offs – a big two fingers up to the prospect of self-preservation.

A sign that Wire will fight until the bitter end for second spot? Or that Burgess still feels there’s fine-tuning to be done? Either way, it’s an admirable yet risky strategy.

Any injuries picked up will jeopardize players’ hopes of featuring in the play-offs, while any suspensions incurred would be a killer blow.

With that in mind, Burgess will be hoping he gets what he wants from Friday without having to pay too much of a price.

Matt Dufty is to return to the Warrington side against London on Friday (Image: Neil Ashurst/P&B Pictures)

The best or worst pre play-off game?

Burgess insists it’s the former – having faced little to no resistance from Huddersfield last week, that will certainly not be the case on Friday.

What London lack in proven quality, they more than make up for in togetherness and determination. If Warrington are to get what they want from this game – whatever that may be – they will be made to work for it.

The Wire defence which has now gone two full games without conceding a try will be tested by the Broncos’ willingness to throw the ball around, utilise second-phase play and try things outside of the norm.

Nevertheless, this will still be a game Wire are expected to win – and win well.

If they don’t, there will naturally be questions about the team’s readiness for the do-or-die games that follow it from their supporters.

London pushed Wire all the way when the sides last met in the capital last month, with Sam Burgess' men eventually running out 36-22 winners (Image: Neil Ashurst/P&B Pictures)

No need to chase points

This time last week, Warrington were looking at needing two convincing victories as well as a slip-up from Hull KR to snatch second spot.

The latter is still true, but the nature of their victory at Huddersfield Giants has all but eradicated the points difference gap between the two, bringing it down from 82 to just 17 in one fell swoop.

It’s not the way this team are wired up anyway – no pun intended – but what it does do is remove the need for Burgess’ boys to go recklessly chasing points.

As previously mentioned, they are likely to need to work harder for their points than they had to on Saturday, but sticking to their usual process should bring them about naturally.

Last week's hammering of Huddersfield Giants reduced Wire's points difference deficit to second-placed Hull KR from 82 to just 17 (Image: Neil Ashurst/P&B Pictures)

Will eyes be cast elsewhere at any point?

Of course, Warrington have a job to do themselves first and foremost – no other permutations can be considered unless they win the game they have in front of them.

That will be their main priority but if it becomes clear that their job is being done, at what point will they start to cast glances elsewhere?

Burgess insists it is something he will not think about, but it would still be a surprise if Hull KR’s progress was not mentioned at all in the home coaching box on Friday.

It may be that the feeling around the ground will give them a firm clue as to what is happening at Craven Park anyway, particularly if things are going Warrington’s way.

Wire's rivals for second spot Hull KR are at home to Leeds on Friday night (Image: PA Wire)

Wire’s half-back present and future on show

Josh Drinkwater is the present for now, but he is about to become the past when it comes to Warrington’s half-back situation.

And across the field on Friday, it looks like we’ll be getting a glimpse of the future.

Confirmation came yesterday that Drinkwater would, as expected, be moving on once his contract ends – something many supporters may be pleased about, but his contributions since coming back into the side following Leon Hayes’ season-ending injury should not be underestimated.

And while Drinkwater’s days as a Wire are numbered, the opposite scrum-half on Friday will be getting his first glimpse of his future home ground.

London star Oli Leyland is widely expected to join Warrington next year to compete with Hayes for a spot alongside George Williams in Burgess’ creative hub.

If indeed a move is close, Friday is a chance to Leyland to show his new fans what he can do.

> Sam Burgess confirms his interest in London Broncos half-back

London half-back Oli Leyland is expected to join Warrington for next year (Image: SWPix.com)