STEVE Price is performing somewhat of a balancing act with Warrington Wolves.

Once again this week, he repeated his side’s duty to keep rugby league in this country alive by ensuring the 2020 season is completed.

The RFL and Super League have tried to help on that front this week by saying the final table will be determined by win percentage in the event that a team cannot fulfil its fixtures as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to lurk ominously in the background.

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Despite being without seven players for Covid-related reasons once again this week as he prepares his side to face Castleford Tigers tonight, Price insists that as things stand, The Wire can cope and will press on as they did so admirably in beating Hull FC 37-12 on Friday night.

However, he admits that things will get “taxing” should any of their fixtures need to be rearranged.

“All we can do is be the best version of ourselves,” he said.

“We run a tight ship here and we have a very strict Covid officer so as long as we’re doing our bit, that’s all we can ask for.

“I think we’re up there for the most amount of games played, on par with Wigan and St Helens. We have to try and play as many games as we can.

“We had every right to not play last week but we have a duty to keep men and women involved in this game. I would hate to see it come crashing down.

“At present, we’re happy to go on because we have a lot of young guys champing at the bit to play.

“Once we get into games down the track, it will put a lot more stress on everybody.

“Welfare is really important with the players.

“With where the fixtures are at the moment, I think we can get by with the roster we have – that’s just speaking from our point of view.

“If more start to get crammed in though, that will be a bit taxing for us.”

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Price will choose from largely the same pool of players that stepped up to the task last week as they face the Tigers at the Totally Wicked Stadium, although Ben Murdoch-Masila makes a timely return from a two-match suspension.

Gareth Widdop missed Friday’s game for personal reasons and will be absent again while Chris Hill, Jack Hughes, Jason Clark, Samy Kibula, Joe Philbin and Matt Davis remain absent.

Daryl Clark is in The Wire’s 21-man squad but may miss the meeting with his former club as he and wife Leigh are awaiting the imminent arrival of their first child.

“I was really proud of all the boys last week, but this week poses different challenges,” Price said of the meeting with Daryl Powell’s men.

“It’s going to be a step up, but we’re excited for it.

“We manage the loads of our players quite well here, especially the experienced lads.

“I know that they’re excited to go again on Thursday and I’m confident the 17 I put out will do the job.”