Wigan Warriors coach Shaun Wane has insisted that his side have been debilitated by injuries more than any other team in Super League this season.
The Warriors have been without the likes of Sam Tomkins and Michael McIlorum for the majority of this season – although Tomkins is set to return in next Friday’s game against Hull.
Wane has been without as many as 10 front-line players on a number of occasions this year, and he believes that with the calibre of youngsters the Warriors have been able to draft in, that is why it has not been a point of discussion that his side have been so depleted on numerous occasions this year.
“Man for man, we’ve suffered more than anyone else with injuries,” he said.
“We’ve had as many as 11 or 12 missing and if you take that out of Warrington’s side they’re a different team.
“Nobody speaks out that though because it isn’t us. We’ve been able to have good squad members who could come in and I always look at it as a positive.”
Wane’s Wigan head to Dewsbury on Sunday in the Challenge Cup, and whilst he insisted he will field his strongest available side, he did offer an update on who could and could not return from injury.
“Dom Manfredi is back; Dom Crosby and Sean O’Loughlin have a chance to be back, too.
“There’s doubts over Lee Mossop and Ben Flower, too. I’ll be turning my strongest team out against Dewsbury, that is for sure.”
And despite facing part-time opposition in the Rams, Wane has promised that Wigan will not be taking the game for granted in the bid to avoid an upset.
“It’s a cup competition but we’ll prepare the same: we’ll prepare for Dewsbury like we do for St Helens.
“We’ll show them a lot of respect, they’re a big team and they’re well-coached on a pitch which is different to what we’re used to playing on. We’ll turn up expecting a good side.”