GARETH O’Brien will miss out when Salford Red Devils bid to book a place in the Challenge Cup Final on Sunday.

The Warringtonian was due to return to his old haunt to go to war with Salford against Wigan Warriors in the semi final at The Halliwell Jones Stadium, kick off 2.30pm.

But the former Wire half-back is not included in Ian Watson's 19-man squad for the crunch clash.

Now he'll have to hope the selected players can do the job and he can return to the side in time for a Wembley appearance that eluded him with his hometown club.

O’Brien featured in Wire’s first team 62 times between 2011 and 2015 but, unlike many of his squad mates of that period, never got to pull on the primrose and blue shirt at Wembley.

He did appear in one semi final, but the occasion ended in tears as The Wire lost to unfancied Hull Kingston Rovers at Headingley in 2015.

The 25-year-old was not involved in the semi-final success over Huddersfield Giants in 2012, nor the last-four losses to Hull FC in 2013 and Leeds Rhinos in 2014.

He made his debut for The Wire in the competition, scoring a try in an 80-0 home success against Keighley Cougars in May, 2011, and two weeks later partnered Lee Briers in the halves as Wolves assembled a club record 112-0 triumph over Swinton Lions at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

O’Brien was mostly understudy to Briers and Richie Myler until 2014, which was his first of two seasons playing a more prominent role.

Now in his second full campaign with Salford, O’Brien has taken his game to a different level after switching from the halves to full-back at the AJ Bell Stadium.

O’Brien, who was in the 19-man squad but did not play in Friday’s 25-0 loss to Leigh Centurions in the final Super League round before the splits, wrote his name into the history books when he capped a fine 2016 campaign with the long-range drop goal that kept Salford in the top flight via winning the Million Pound Game against Hull Kingston Rovers.

And he showed his big-game know-how again in Salford’s opening Challenge Cup tie of 2017, with his drop goal all but confirming a hard-earned victory over League One newcomers Toronto Wolfpack at the AJ Bell Stadium.

Salford have yet to play at the new Wembley Stadium.

Their last appearance in the final came in an 11-6 loss to Castleford in 1969, while their last victory goes back 31 years further when Barrow were edged out 7-4.

This will be the sixth time The Halliwell Jones Stadium has staged a Challenge Cup semi final.

The last occasion was two years ago when Leeds Rhinos booked their trip to Wembley and ultimately a cup final victory with a 24-14 defeat of St Helens.

Former Wire assistant coach Willie Poching, Watson’s right-hand man, is aiming to help steer a third club to the final having done so with Wolves in 2010 and 2012 as well as Hull KR in 2015.

Challenge Cup semi finals at The Halliwell Jones Stadium:

April 25, 2004: Huddersfield Giants 6 St Helens 46, attendance 13,134

July 29, 2007: Catalans Dragons 37 Wigan Warriors 24, attendance 10,218

August 9, 2009: Huddersfield Giants 24 St Helens 14, attendance 10,638

August 6, 2011: St Helens 12 Wigan Warriors 18, attendance 12,713

July 31, 2015: Leeds Rhinos 24 St Helens 14, attendance 11,107