Semi Final
Wigan vs Warrington
Match schedule
Date: Saturday 8 August 2009
Kick-off: 1430 BST
Competition : Carnegie Challenge Cup SEMI-FINAL
Venue: Halton Stadium
Live / Repeat: Live
upcoming match info : Wigan vs Warrington live
Wigan include captain Sean O'Loughlin and Phil Bailey in their squad for Saturday's sold-out Challenge Cup semi-final after both recovered from injury.
O'Loughlin has been out for four weeks with a knee injury and Bailey missed two games with a dead leg. Darrell Goulding (dislocated shoulder) is out.
Warrington are without ex-Warriors winger Brian Carney, who broke his arm against Leeds, as well as Simon Grix.
Riley, 21, was dropped for Saturday's Super League match against Leeds after playing 15 games in a row.
"Chris was probably a bit unlucky to miss out last week," said Wolves coach Tony Smith.
"He handled it professionally. He's ready to go and ready to do his best this week."
He admitted the loss of Grix and Carney would change the balance of his team, but did not necessarily think it would weaken them.
"Each player that comes in changes the side and we will look at what each person does well and see what we would be able to exploit, just like we would for any other team," he said.
And Smith said he was eager to repeat his achievement at Leeds and end Warrington's long wait for silverware.
The Wolves' last trophy was the Regal Cup in 1991, and they have not won the Challenge Cup since 1974.
"Warrington is similar to Leeds because they hadn't won the championship for 32 years until we did it in 2004.
"I've been twice to the new Wembley as a spectator, and I'd like to go back as a coach."
While Smith contends with the loss of Carney, Noble is buoyed by the return of his skipper O'Loughlin.
"His chances are pretty good," said Noble.
"He'll only play if he's fully fit but he's taking part in training and we'll make a decision on Thursday or Friday.
"He did a bit of training last week and he's progressing well. He's a consummate professional and has due diligence in relation to his rehab.
"He's important to us and so it's important that we give him the best opportunity to play. He's a world-class player."
The clash also sees Wigan centre Martin Gleeson come up against his old Warrington team-mates.
One of those is close friend and Warrington captain Lee Briers who is yet to play in a Challenge Cup final.
Briers has endured a couple of near misses and Gleeson is more than prepared to inflict yet more heartbreak on his former team-mate.
"I've got a lot of good friends there, like Briersy, who have played for so long and never made the final," said Gleeson.
"He's desperate to play in the final. I don't want him to win but it's going to be tough after the game because one of us is going to Wembley and one isn't."
Gleeson moved to Wigan in April for £125,000 and has played for all four of this weekend's semi-finalists.
The 29-year-old was in the losing St Helens side at Murrayfield in 2002 and was a winner in Cardiff two years later - and has no doubt which pairing would make the best final.
"I know Warrington and Huddersfield will have something to say about it but a Wigan-Saints final would be great," he added
"The crowd would be equally spread and there'd be a great atmosphere.
"It would make the final a spectacle which I think no other teams could match."
Wigan (from): Roberts, Carmont, Richards, Leuluai, Fielden, Riddell, Paleaaesina, Bailey, O'Loughlin, J Tomkins, Coley, Hansen, Prescott, Pryce, C Phelps, M Gleeson, L Mossop, S Tomkins, Flanagan.
Warrington (from): L Anderson, V Anderson, Blythe, Bridge, Briers, Carvell, Clarke, Cooper, Harrison, Hicks, Johnson, King, Mathers, Mitchell, Monaghan, Morley, Rauhihi, Riley, Westwood.
