Catalans Dragons vs Wigan Warriors Prediction: Field-inspired Warriors to triumph in France

A week that has seen the not-yet-confirmed departure of long-serving head coach Steve McNamara ends for Catalans Dragons with the visit of defending Betfred Super League champions Wigan Warriors on Saturday (17:30, live on Sky Sports Action).

Read on for my Catalans Dragons vs Wigan Warriors predictions, complete with the latest match odds and team news.

Catalans Dragons vs Wigan Warriors Odds

Betfred Super League champions Wigan are 1/3 at Betfred to return from France on Saturday with two points.

Catalans can be backed at 5/2 to spring a bit of an upset, while it's 18/1 about a draw.

The Warriors' Liam Marshall, Jai Field and Bevan French head the tryscorer markets, at 7/1, 8/1 and 9/1 respectively to open the scoring.

Team News

Whether McNamara selected this week's squad before his departure is unknown, but there are three changes to the 21-man group.

England forward Elliot Whitehead is back after serving his suspension, and another England man Tommy Makinson returns on the wing, with Franck Maria the other name added to the squad beaten 40-0 at St Helens last weekend.

Dropping out this week are Arthur Romano and Bayley Sironen.

Wigan name youngster Zach Eckersley in their squad despite being stretchered off in last week's win over Leigh - a sixth victory on the spin for the Warriors.

Boss Matt Peet makes just the one change, with forward Ethan Havard included at the expense of Tayor Kerr. Havard has yet to play this season.

If Eckersley is not fit to play, then Jacob Douglas could return on the wing having most recently been on the Oldham wing in the Championship as part of the dual-registration deal between the two clubs.

Abbas Miski remains out following knee surgery.

Wigan -12 @ 13/10

Traditionally the Stade Gilbert Brutus is one of the toughest away days in Super League but I don't have much doubt that Wigan will win this game.

Such has been the British influx to the region, there are parts of it that feel like Little Wigan, with the Tomkins brothers and co setting down roots there along with cross code legend Shaun Edwards too.

So it all feels pretty normal for Wigan when they head to Perpignan and I'm expecting the champions to rack up another win. It hasn't been one-way traffic in these games on Catalans soil however with Wigan winning three of the most recent five games there.

But it's been another stop-start season and you just wonder how this Dragons team will respond to all the off-field upheaval. The conditions will help - it will be hot there this weekend - but I can't see that hampering the Warriors too much.

The handicap is at 10 points which could end up being a little on the skinny side, as I feel Peet's men can win with a little bit more wriggle room than that.

Jai Field - Anytime Tryscorer @ 4/5

A rare blank from the flying Jai Field in a seven-try win last week is not enough to put me off backing him again here.

The odds are short of course but in a game which should produce plenty of points, I see the Aussie thriving under the hot sun and flat track and feast on a Dragons carcass after that humiliation at St Helens last week.

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