Widnes Vikings vs Warrington Wolves Prediction: Hosts have their Challenge Cup hands full

Last year's Betfred Challenge Cup finalists Warrington travel for a fierce local rivalry with Widnes as strong favourites to head through to the next round of rugby league's iconic Cup competition. 

The Wire have won two and lost two of their opening four Super League games but come up against Championship opposition that they should have more than enough to deal with. (Kick-off 5pm).

Rugby League Odds

Team news

Warrington head coach Sam Burgess makes four changes to the squad who slumped to a surprise home defeat to Wakefield last weekend on their return from Las Vegas. When I say surprise defeat, it won't actually have come as too much of a shock to followers of this column as we tipped Trinity on the handicap last weekend - Wakefield look good on their return to the top tier.

As for the Wolves, they need a big response in the derby this week and are without key forward Luke Yates who sits out the next six weeks with an ankle injury.

Youngster Arron Lindop misses out through concussion protocols, star full-back Matt Dufty has a knock and isn't risked, with key forward Lachlan Fitzgibbon also missing out.

Match Odds

So into the squad come four youngsters in Jake Thewlis - who has plenty of first-team experience - and forwards Luke Thomas, Tom Whitehead and Max Wood who has actually been playing at Widnes on dual-registration.

The headline piece of rugby league news this week has been the transfer from Salford to Warrington of Marc Sneyd, but he is not involved.

Widnes make just one change to their squad - and it is Wood dropping out to play instead for Warrington (only in rugby league!) and his place in the squad goes to Joe Edge.

Handicap 3-way Alternative 2: Widnes +26 @ 7/5

Changes or not, derby or not, I can't see Warrington losing this game. The two defeats in Super League have both come in the last two weeks - destroyed by the best team in the land Wigan in Las Vegas, and then looking jaded against an energetic Wakefield on their return.

I expect the Wolves to look more like a Sam Burgess team this week and they should win with a bit to spare. So it depends what you fancy on the handicap. I don't expect a rout, with Widnes expecting a big crowd at the Halton Stadium.

Widnes are going along okay in the Championship, having won two of their first three games.

But I think anywhere between 20-30 points for the visitors would not be far off. The handicap is giving the Vikings 30 which is a good marker, I feel it might be just under that, so am going for the Vikings with a 26-point start at 7/5.

Rugby League Betting Tips from Betfred Insights.