WARRINGTON Wolves have named a 21-man squad for their Super League season opener at Wigan on Thursday.
Marquee signing Gareth Widdop is sidelined as expected with an ankle injury sustained in pre-season training, but fellow new signings Matty Ashton and Anthony Gelling are included.
Ashton is tipped to start at full-back, with Stefan Ratchford set to feature alongside Blake Austin at half-back in the absence of Widdop.
Coach Steve Price said former Widnes centre Gelling had impressed over pre-season and was his first choice for the new campaign, with Toby King, Jake Mamo and rugby union convert Luther Burrell to fight it out for the other spot.
Gelling’s Warrington debut is set to come against his former club Wigan, who he won the Super League title with in 2016. Winger Josh Charnley also goes up against his former club.
Wigan are without centre Oliver Gildart, who was injured on Great Britain duty, and Dom Manfredi through injury.
Clubs are now required to name a 21-man squad 48 hours prior to kick-off following changes in protocol to the previous 19-man squad announcements, which regularly saw players from outside the 19-man selection being called up at the eleventh hour.
The game takes place at the DW Stadium on Thursday evening, live on Sky Sports.
Warrington 21-man squad: Akauola, Ashton, Austin, Burrell, Charnley, D Clark, J Clark, Cooper, Currie, Davis, Gelling, Hill, Johnson, T King, Lineham, Mamo, Murdoch-Masila, Patton, Philbin, Ratchford, Walker.
Wigan 21-man squad: Hardaker, Marshall, Hankinson, Burgess, French, Leuluai, Clubb, Powell, Burgess, Isa, Farrell, O’Loughlin, Greenwood, Smithies, Partington, Bullock, Byrne, Bibby, Smith, Havard, Hastings.
