Warrington Wolves predicted team for Hull KR clash

There is scope for a few changes to the side and given the hints he dropped when addressing the media in midweek, it looks as though there may be.

Here, we assess some of Burgess’ selection dilemmas before predicting the team he will name to face the Robins…

Will Taylor-Wray make it this time?

While we haven’t seen him on the field for three months, Cai Taylor-Wray’s name in the 21-man squad has been pretty regular of late.

Indeed, he has been named in three of the last four squads – a real dangling of the carrot, but it can be said that it only causes more frustration for supporters when the flying full-back doesn’t end up playing.

However, this is the first time that Burgess has said the 20-year-old is in with a real chance of playing and hopefully starting to put an injury-wrecked season behind him.

After lighting up the competition’s early weeks, it has been setback after setback for Taylor-Wray – first it was a hamstring strain, then a broken hand and finally the ankle ligament issue which has kept him out since Round Nine.

While Josh Thewlis was excelling at full-back in his place, Warrington had the luxury of not rushing Taylor-Wray back even if there has been an admittance that his recovery from this injury has been much more complicated than expected.

Now Thewlis himself is unavailable, however, having their number one back sooner rather than later to hopefully inject some more dynamism into their play is paramount.

That is no slight on Lachlan Webster, who has shown himself to be an able deputy and will no doubt fill the role again if Burgess deems it prudent to give Taylor-Wray a little longer to fully recover.

However, the sight of the electric Yorkshireman on the team sheet would no doubt lift the mood.

Taylor-Wray has been missing since the Round Nine victory over Wigan Warriors (Image: Richard Walker)

Does Philbin come back – and for whom?

Another decision for Burgess is whether or not he brings Joe Philbin back into the side following his calf issue.

The Warringtonian front-rower has come in for criticism from fans – overly harsh criticism, some may say – for his performances before suffering his injury, but he is clearly a trusted lieutenant for the head coach.

It will also get the team closer to having the bench rotation that had some joy in the season’s early weeks, with Philbin and Toff Sipley tasked with lifting the energy when coming into the game.

If fit, it is difficult to imagine him not being picked – and it may well be at the cost of a fan favourite.

Max Wood is finally getting the first-team opportunities supporters have been crying out for, while Ben Hartill is currently in possession of a shirt through Sam Powell’s suspension.

If Philbin is to come back in, it would appear one of them would be favourite to make way. Who that is will depend on how Burgess wants to structure his bench.

Does he feel he needs an interchange hooker? Or will he go for all-out power?

Joe Philbin could also return to Sam Burgess' line-up (Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com)

Can a place be found for Holroyd?

Warrington’s second row is something of a conundrum.

Sam Stone is still missing through injury and Burgess’ clear preference is to use Kelepi Tanginoa from the bench – not the usual strategy for a player in his position and it means making allowances elsewhere.

That usually means a middle forward – usually James Harrison – starts on the edge before moving back into his more regular role when Tanginoa enters the fray, while James Bentley has been preferred on the right edge in Stone’s absence.

Bentley’s abrasive, play-on-the-edge style can either go very right or very wrong, and you’d expect another running battle with Mikey Lewis if he plays on Saturday as there was in the Challenge Cup semi final.

That means Adam Holroyd is likely to be left on the outer again having played twice since returning from his shoulder injury.

Is he going to be a victim of circumstance again? Or can a place be found for him?

Adam Holroyd dropped back to 18th man at Wigan last week (Image: Neil Ashurst/P&B Pictures)

Warrington Wolves predicted team vs Hull KR, Super League Round 19

Cai Taylor-Wray; Albert Hopoate, Josh Smith, Toby King, Matty Ashton; Ewan Irwin, Leon Hayes; Luke Thomas, Danny Walker, Liam Byrne, James Bentley, James Harrison, Ben Currie. Subs: Kelepi Tanginoa, Toff Sipley, Joe Philbin, Ben Hartill

Is this the team you would pick to face the Robins? Let us know in the comments