Wigan Warriors vs Wakefield Trinity Prediction: Hosts to gain an important win

Champions Wigan Warriors are suddenly looking over their shoulder at Leeds Rhinos and will seek a morale-boosting home win over Wakefield Trinity to reassert their dominance in the Betfred Super League top two. (15:00 BST, Sky Sports+)

Defeat at home by Hull KR last week, coupled with the Rhinos' win over Rovers already this week has left Wigan level on points with third-placed Leeds, while Wakefield know a big performance on the road can ignite their own play-off hopes.

Wigan Warriors vs Wakefield Trinity Odds

Wigan Warriors are 1/6 favourites to win here, while it is 9/2 for Wakefield to come away with the victory. The draw is priced at 22/1.

Team News

Wigan boss Matt Peet revealed this week that both star man Bevan French and England prop Luke Thompson are a couple of weeks away from fitness, but has nonetheless named French in his 21-man squad again.

England forward Junior Nsemba is back in the squad in the only change from last week's home defeat by the Robins. He missed that game through concussion protocols, having failed his Head Injury Assessment in the win at Warrington the week before.

The man to make way is Harvey Makin, who had been on loan at crisis club Salford.

Wakefield this week extended the contract of head coach Daryl Powell, and he is boosted by the return to the squad of winger Tom Johnstone as one of four changes to the squad. Whether the England man will be fit to play is a question of huge debate.

Definitely out through injury are Ky Rodwell and Caleb Hamlin-Uele, Ellis Lingard is included and so too is youngster Noah High.

Wakefield should otherwise be relatively fresh having had a week off.

Wigan -8.5 & Jai Field to score a try  @ 29/20

This is a game of huge significance to both of these sides and their hopes of being involved at the business end of the season. In fact we are already in the business end of the season, but in terms of the playoffs Wakefield need to pick up some results. Trinity are nestled in 7th, outside of the playoff places but right on the shoulder of Hull FC.

As for the champions, Wigan will have been buoyed by Hull KR's defeat on Thursday night at in-form Leeds - a shock result tipped by this column. The Warriors though are now level with Leeds and will see this home game as must-win.

And it is a game that Wigan should win. The game with Hull KR last week went as we predicted, with Rovers securing a narrow 10-6 win - perfectly judged in our -2 handicap selection!

But Wakefield stunned Wigan with a win at Bellevue earlier this season, so are capable of toppling Matty Peet's men. I do though sense it will be a different scenario on Wigan soil.

Looking at the 16-point handicap priced up in midweek I am a little put off - I do feel that Wakefield may be a little closer to Wigan than that. So I am looking at a two-score Wigan win in a double with a likely anytime try scorer selection.

Jai Field has been my go-to Wigan scorer all year so I see no reason to look elsewhere. I am looking at a Wigan win by about 10 points, so am taking Wigan -8.5 and Field to score at 29/20.

Wigan to win both halves @ 4/11

Whether or not Wakefield can keep this game close, or indeed if the home side can start well and pull away, I am expecting the champions to control the contest.

This is the time of year for Wigan. Champions have their stumbles in mid-season and come strong when it matters - Wigan, like Leeds and St Helens, have always done that.

Yes the Warriors lost last week, but it was tight, and they were worthy winners at Warrington the week before. I see promising signs for Wigan fans that the team will be at full tilt for the run-in, and as such I see them winning both halves of this one.

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