Tonight's Warrington Wolves v Huddersfield Giants match situation (From Warrington Guardian)

2:59pm

WITH this morning's snow having cleared in many parts of Warrington and the game confirmed as going ahead tonight as planned at 8pm, this live report is now closed.

Join us again later for pre-match team news, full match report, pictures from the game and reaction from the Wolves camp on the performance.

1:45pm

For supporters travelling to Warrington for tonight's game against Super League leaders Huddersfield Giants, the snow has stopped falling and conditions are looking brighter. Wolves say the game is on.

1:41pm

1:26pm

You mean this one akabaz?

On the night Wolves did this.....

1:14pm

12:58pm

12:56pm

WAKEFIELD Trinity Wildcats' clash with Leeds Rhinos tonight has been postponed.

Wolves say their tie of the round against Super League leaders Huddersfield Giants is ON.

Don't forget, tonight's game isn't being televised, it is a Friday night game in order to give the players as much preparation time as possible in advance of next weekend's Easter double header.

12:50pm

12:45pm

Wolves fans - now that the game has been declared ON, do you think the team can knock the Giants down to size this evening? Leave your comments below

12:35pm

WOLVES are obviously keen for all their supporters to spread the word that the game against Huddersfield Giants tonight is ON.

Could be an explosive spectacle among the forwards.

If there were any doubters before today's snow fall that it will be a battle of power down the middle against the Super League leaders, then there shouldn't be any now.

To that end, it's great news for Wolves that Ben Harrison and Trent Waterhouse are due to figure and add some extra beef up front against the biggest pack in Super League.

The kicking game of both teams will be key too.

Wolves will need Richie Myler, Stefan Ratchford and Michael Monaghan to be clinical with the boot in general play in a bid to dominate territory and put the visitors under pressure.

12:22pm

11:44am

WOLVES chief executive Andy Gatcliffe remains highly confident tonight's game will go ahead as planned.

The club's match-day bosses have inspected the pitch.

"We're continuing to clear snow and the snow at the side of the pitch has turned to slush," he said.

"Yes, there's some snow on the pitch but unlike for Ben Westwood's game (in January) the blades of grass are peeping through. It is only a light covering.

"They have had the blowers on the pitch since about 9am and the good thing is the lines have stayed clear.

"The forecast is for rain with some light snow. Unless we get an absolute deluge to prove me wrong, the game will go ahead."

11:24am

Ground staff using the blowers to clear the pitch markings of snow in the last half an hour.

11:07am

10:56am

10:39am

Memories of the pitch clearing in January

10:38am

10:36am

10:31am

BBC weather forecast currently predicting light snow for the majority of the day until 8pm.

10:23am

10:23am

WOLVES head of coaching and rugby Tony Smith says the weather has been more of a disruption to match preaprations this year than in the past.

And he feels it helps to explain the minimal expansive rugby by most Super League teams in the early part of Super League XVIII.

Talking after the win at Salford on another cold and damp night, he said: "Night games are the worst - go out on any pitch and run your hand along it, it's slippery.

"It's hard to be flashy and play open-style rugby.

"That's why we switched to summer rugby isn't it, so that we could move to expansive rugby.

"We've been seeing exactly why we don't play in winter any more.

"Games are mistake riddled and they rely a whole lot on your kicking games.

"It's not only the night or day of the game that is affected.

"The quality of work we've been able to get down to on the training pitch has been minimal.

"It's just been a disruptive year of weather and so therefore the quality on the training field isn't as good and that transpires on to the field.

"We're not the only ones guilty of that. As soon as the sun comes out, watch out, there'll be some fantastic rugby league to be played."

10:12am

10:12am

10:02am

Should the weather take a turn for the worst, and the worst thing happens in terms of postponement, discussion for rescheduling the game would have to take place between Warrington Wolves, Huddersfield Giants and the Rugby Football League.

There has been a precedent this season with regards to a postponed Friday night game between Hull FC and Bradford Bulls taking place on the Sunday afternoon instead.

9:56am

The Halliwell Jones Stadium pitch at the moment

9:51am

The thought of all the Warrington wolves fans shovelling the snow off the pitch now so the match is on makesme want to cry

— @Kayla_Newall 22 March 2013

9:49am

Tonight's match referee Ben Thaler will be arriving 'early' to check on the pitch situation.

9:48am

Ground staff are currently using blowers to clear snow off the whitewash pitch markings in preparation for the match to go ahead as scheduled this evening.

Andy Gatcliffe said the pitch markings are going to be painted blue to allow them to be distinguished from any further snow fall. 

9:43am

Wolves will not be requesting volunteers to help clear The Halliwell Jones Stadium pitch of the thin layer of snow currently covering the playing surface.

Almost 100 supporters descended upon the ground on the morning of January 26 to help out with shovels and wheelbarrows as the pitch was cleared in order for the Ben Westwood Testimonial game to go ahead against Wigan Warriors.

"We were really grateful for the volunteer support on that occasion but having 100 people on the pitch did do some damage, so we don't want to be doing that on this occasion," said Wolves' chief executive Andy Gatcliffe.

9:37am

WOLVES' Halliwell Jones Stadium pitch has a light covering of snow this morning.

Wolves chief executive Andy Gatcliffe says the club are doing all that they can to ensure tonight's eagerly anticipated clash with Super League leaders Huddersfield Giants goes ahead as planned.

"It's really hard to give a steer, I'm not a weather forecaster. But my view at this time is that the game will go ahead.

"At 8am the snow was heavier and the clouds darker than they are now. We're keeping an eye on three different weather forecasts and it has changed.

"But unless it turns really really nasty, my view is that the game will be on."

Andy Gatcliffe