STEFAN Ratchford is asking supporters to stick by the Warrington Wolves team during this tricky period.

Wolves have four Super League games – going into their Challenge Cup semi-final clash with Hull KR – in which to claim a top-eight finish to the season’s first phase and thus avoid a battle against relegation while keeping Grand Final hopes alive.

But their challenge is heightened by a stack of injuries and suspensions.

Although Tony Smith’s men go into tonight’s clash with Wigan Warriors with 10 absentees, some ‘unnamed’ others will take to the field carrying injuries.

Ratchford featured in Saturday’s Challenge Cup win against Leigh having only trained once since suffering a dead leg in the loss at Hull KR a week earlier.

But with heavy strapping on his right thigh, the England international played his part in victory – his maizy run at the start of the second half handing Wolves a lead they never lost.

“The majority of fans have been brilliant with us and do understand the situation we’re in at the moment,” said the full back, who could figure at centre against his hometown club tonight.

“We’re doing it tough. There’s people carrying injuries each week, some are worse than others, but we’re a spirited group and we just have to crack on.

“We hope the fans stick with us, that we can come good, get a couple of wins, be fine in the top eight with a semi final to look forward to. That always gives everyone a lift.

“It’s an important time now not to make excuses with injuries and important the fans get behind us and push through this difficult period.”

Ratchford explained his week leading up to finally electing to play against Leigh.

"I only trained the day before the game," he said.

"I got a dead leg at Hull KR after about 10 minutes. I struggled in the game but managed to get through and then during the week I wasn't able to run.

"When I tried to run it was pulling on my quad and I wasn't sure if I was going to play or not with the way the quad was feeling.

"I managed to get through the team run the day before the Leigh game and then managed to get through the game.

"It was a pretty tough ask but I don't think I had much choice.

"On Friday (day before the game) we had 18 fit players training, so we were down to our last 17 if I dropped out and it would have meant people slotting into positions that they've probably never played before in order to get through the game."

Ratchford said he has never known a spell like this in his time as a proffessional rugby league player.

"We've had times down to maybe 20-21 fit players, but we are struggling to put 17 out on the field at the moent," he said.

Some supporters have been critical of performances and look for causes behind the scenes.

Ratchford said: "Those who have been critical have every right to be critical.

"They pay their money each week and it's up to them how they want to view things.

"We are a spirited group and we all pull together.

"You get a lot of stories about this and that, but all the boys love playing in this group and love the coaching staff that are here.

"We'll keep going regardless of what people think or say. We stick together through thick and thin and I think we showed that against Leigh in glimpses with the way we celebrated some of the good stuff that we did.

"Now, we need to pick up a couple of wins. We're not in the league position that we thought we'd have been in at this moment in time.

"We've been doing it tough but we're not making excuses. We know our performances haven't been to the standard that we want them to be and where they should be at for a club like Warrington.

"But as I said, the boys are all sticking together, pulling tiogether and hopefully we'll pick up a couple of wins and secuure our place in the eight.!

The first of the potential wins is on offer against Wigan tonight, when Ratchford could potentially be one of five players facing his hometown club - alongside Brad Dwyer, Chris Hill, Matty Russell and Sam Wilde.

"It's always a special ggame against Wigan," said Ratchford.

"There's always a big crowd, it's always a pretty special atmosphere and usually a pretty special game.

"I'm sure this game will be no different. Us Wigan boys always look forward to it but I think the rivalry built up in the games that we've played agaainst each other means everybody will be looking forward to it."

Much has been made of Wigan having seven days more preapration time than Warrington going into tonight's game, with the Warriors having not had a cup tie at the weekend.

Ratchford said: "We'd like that extra couple of days because of bodies being thin on the ground but that's the way it falls.

"I'd much rather play the Challenge Cup quarter final on Saturday and back it up on Thursday rather than have the week off by not being in the competition.

"Wigan will have freshened themselves up. I'm sure Shaun Wane will have given them a couple of tough sessions because he wouldn't have been best pleased at not still being in the cup.

"They'll come here hoping for a big performance but we've got to back up some of the good stuff we did on Saturday by doing it for longer periods of time."