Warrington Wolves vs Wigan Warriors Predictions: Visitors to win Challenge Cup rehearsal

The game of the weekend in the Betfred Super League is, by some distance, the meeting of two powerhouses at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Saturday (15:00) as defending champions Wigan take on a Warrington side being rebuilt into a formidable force by Great Britain legend Sam Burgess.

Only points difference separates these two and St Helens at the summit and it of course acts as a precursor to the Betfred Challenge Cup next weekend. So, here's my Warrington Wolves vs Wigan Warriors predictions ahead of a huge game.

Team News

It will be fascinating to see how both teams approach this game just a week prior to their meeting in the Betfred Challenge Cup Final at Wembley.

Warrington boss Burgess has made several changes - nine to be specific - as he makes it very clear that the Wembley date next week takes precedence. England captain George Williams was already ruled out through suspension and he's joined on the sidelines by prop Joe Philbin who misses this week, and in all likelihood Wembley, with an adductor injury.

Other big names left out this week are winger Matty Ashton, forwards Ben Currie, Lachlan Fitzgibbon and James Harrison, plus Toby King, Josh Thewlis and hooker Danny Walker.

Such wholesale changes leave Warrington very light, and there are potential debuts for several academy graduates - including Ben Hartill, Cai Taylor-Wray, Frank Sergent, Jake Thewlis and Nolan Tupaea. It's a very brave squad selection from Burgess.

Wigan also leave some key figures out of their squad, but there's still plenty of quality in their ranks.

Captain Liam Farrell, winger Abbas Miski and prop Luke Thompson are all rested, but Jai Field, Harry Smith and Bevan Smith are named in the squad. Forwards Kaide Ellis and Sam Walters are both back available after suspensions.

Warrington Wolves vs Wigan Warriors Odds

With the Wire set to make a shed-load of changes, Betfred go 4/1 about them getting the victory on Friday night - an implied probability of just 20%. Meanwhile, Wigan are 2/11 (84.6%) and the draw is available at 22/1 (4.3%).

Wigan -14 @ 1/1

The respective team selections make this game a very tough one to predict as we simply don’t know which side will be sent out strongest.

That said, Warrington have thrown so many youngsters into the squad that they are bound to be seriously weaker which makes it very difficult to see the home side winning this game. The Wolves have been a revelation under Burgess. A team reborn so early in his tenure, but the former Great Britain forward is clearly going all out to win at Wembley in his first season at the helm and looks to have all but written this game off.

Wigan are likely resting several of their key men too, but it's their squad that feels the more settled and I expect the Warriors to be too good here. A three-score win for Matty Peet’s side tempts me most, with the 14-point handicap therefore decent value.

Adam Keighran - Anytime Tryscorer @ 6/4

Again, it's tough to know which first-teamers named in the initial squads will be selected in the matchday 17s, but Adam Keighran seems a steady bet to feature and the centre has found some pretty good form since his arrival from Catalans Dragons.

Keighran scored a try and kicked five goals as Wigan eased past Salford last weekend and I like the look of him to keep that run going all the way to Wembley.