IN his pre-match press conference, Steve Price says there were players currently on the fringes of his Warrington Wolves side fighting hard to get places in the 17.

Although the 21-man squad named for the Challenge Cup trip to Swinton is a strong one, there is scope for a few players to come in and stake their claim.

Here are the players Price will choose from.

Now, we look at some of the decisions the head coach has to make and predict the team that will take the field at Heywood Road...

HOW MANY CHANGES?

The team will be at least two different from the side that swept Leigh Centurions aside so convincingly in Super League last time out.

Gareth Widdop – star of the show in that game – is missing from the 21-man squad as is Mike Cooper, so there are gaps in the halves and front row that need to be filled.

With Price having already confirmed Matty Ashton would play in this match, it would appear he is set to play at full-back against his former club with Stefan Ratchford moving to partner Blake Austin in the halves.

Stefan Ratchford looks set to partner Blake Austin in the halves. Picture by Mike Boden

Stefan Ratchford looks set to partner Blake Austin in the halves. Picture by Mike Boden

Up front, there are a number of options.

Could Joe Philbin move up from loose forward into the front row? Or will one of either Robbie Mulhern or Rob Butler step off the bench to start?

Could Robbie Mulhern start in the front row? Picture by Mike Boden

Could Robbie Mulhern start in the front row? Picture by Mike Boden

CLARK OFF THE BENCH AGAIN?

In the season opener against Castleford, Daryl Clark was a surprise omission from the starting 13 with Danny Walker taking up the hooking role.

The roles were reversed against Leigh, with Clark starting and Walker injecting energy from the interchanges.

Price has been keen to give Walker opportunities to start more games and this may be one occasion where that chance arises.

Daryl Clark could start on the bench. Picture by Mike Boden

Daryl Clark could start on the bench. Picture by Mike Boden

FIRST SHOWINGS OF THE YEAR?

We have yet to see Matt Davis or Sitaleki Akauola in a Warrington Wolves shirt during 2021, so could Sunday change that?

The same is true for Josh Thewlis and while Ellis Robson started at right second row during the pre-season win over Leigh, he is yet to feature competitively.

With the make-up of the squad, it may be that the opportunity opens up for at least one of the aforementioned three forwards while Thewlis could feature on the wing should Price wish to take either of Josh Charnley or Tom Lineham out of the firing line.

OUR PREDICTED WIRE LINE-UP:

Ashton; Charnley, Mamo, King, Lineham; Austin, Ratchford; Hill, Walker, Philbin, Hughes, Currie, J Clark. Subs: D Clark, Mulhern, Akauola, Davis