Salford City Reds back in league action as they travel to Wakefield Trinity Wildcats

By Ben Burrows

Salford City Reds return to league action this weekend as they face Wakefield Trinity Wildcats today.

Reds thrashed lower league Whitehaven in the Challenge Cup last time out and will be hoping to take the confidence from that win into this weekend’s encounter.

The Wildcats find themselves down in 12^th position in the Super League ladder after a faltering campaign which has seen them pick up only two wins all season.

Reds will be confident of victory at the Rapid Solicitors Stadium and will welcome some key players back in to the fold after missing the Challenge Cup last week.

Influential halfbacks Daniel Holdsworth, as well as forwards Stephen Wild and Shannan McPherson, are all returned to Phil Veivers matchday squad.

Another senior man returning on Saturday is fullback Luke Patten.

The Australian, who has been in sensational form so far this season, this week announced his intention to retire at the end of the 2012 campaign.

The 32-year-old intends to return to his native Australia after two years with the Reds.

“I've always got confidence from training hard, but these days it takes me all week to recover from a game so I can't do that as well I want to.

“I don't want to embarrass myself as 'the guy who had one season too many'.”

Coach Veivers is happy to have been able to rest some of his key men last weekend but admitted it may be his last chance to do so this season.

“If there was any time to give some of the guys a rest, it was last week.

“It will probably be the last chance I get to rest anyone, so it's full steam ahead from now on.

“There's definitely competition for places, the players realise that, and they're under pressure if they've got the shirt.”

On a more negative note, it has been confirmed this week that back row Vinnie Anderson could face up to a two-month layoff with an elbow injury.

The 33-year-old New Zealander injured his elbow in Salford’s last league match against Hull KR and investigations this week have confirmed a small fracture along with ligament damage.

Wakefield boss Richard Agar has made just one change for Saturday nights clash adding Frankie Mariano for the injured Lucas Walshaw.

The Wildcats have won only once since their opening day victory over Super League new boys Widnes Vikings.

While their form hasn’t been what Agar would have envisioned when he took the job at the start of the season, the Wildcats still have a number of threats for the Reds to keep an eye on.

Wingers Peter Fox and Ben Cockayne will always provide a danger out wide while Australian halfback Tim Smith will be hoping to pull the strings effectively in midfield.

Reds should go into the clash as favourites and will be hoping to record their first win in three.