Warrington Wolves predicted line-up to face Hull FC

A play-off place is already secure, one win from their final three matches will seal a home eliminator tie and they need favours from elsewhere to gatecrash the top two, but they have momentum behind them as they look to secure a sixth consecutive victory.

Burgess has spoken of the need to manage his squad until the end of the regular season, however, so could that mean undue risks are avoided?

Here are a few of the things he may be thinking about as he decides the make-up of his 17 for Round 25…

Stick or twist in the spine?

Depending on how both players have pulled up, Burgess may have Josh Thewlis and Ewan Irwin available again after both missed the win over Huddersfield Giants through injuries picked up against Hull KR.

However, he will have to weigh up whether or not it is a risk worth taking.

Thewlis appears to have a better chance of returning than Irwin, whom the Wire boss rated as having “an outside chance” of being back in contention.

And in any event, Lachlan Webster and Leon Hayes have earned the right to stay in the team at full-back and scrum-half respectively following their displays against Huddersfield.

With all of that in mind, it would be a surprise if either player was risked.

Philbin is back – but how does that change the bench?

It does appear more likely that Joe Philbin will come back into the team having missed the last three games with a foot injury.

With Toff Sipley now out for the rest of the year, his return is a timely one but as he comes back into his customary bench role, there is a decision to be made about who he replaces.

In theory, there is an open spot on the bench that he could just slide into with Kelepi Tanginoa out of contention as he manages his troublesome knee, but there are other considerations at play that would complicate that.

Sam Stone’s minutes are also being managed where possible, so Burgess may choose to carry Adam Holroyd on the bench for that eventuality.

So that would leave either Sam Powell, Max Wood or Jordy Crowther vulnerable – Crowther’s utility value is likely to see him stay in as he could spell Danny Walker if necessary, which could mean Powell is the one to make way.

A bench of Philbin, Wood, Crowther and Holroyd would cover every base for Burgess.

Any more to rest up?

There are perhaps a couple of other candidates for rotation, and options to cover that.

In the middle unit, Luke Thomas could slide in if Burgess feels any of Liam Byrne or more likely Ben Currie and James Harrison need a breather while any of the three-quarter line could also be candidates.

That would probably depend on how fit Thewlis is but if he plays, that does free up Webster to cover anyone Burgess feels could benefit from a week off.

Albert Hopoate, who has played in every competitive game this year, could potentially be a candidate.

Predicted Warrington Wolves team to face Hull FC

Lachlan Webster; Albert Hopoate, Arron Lindop, Toby King, Matty Ashton; George Williams, Leon Hayes; Liam Byrne, Danny Walker, James Harrison, Sam Stone, James Bentley, Ben Currie. Subs: Joe Philbin, Jordy Crowther, Max Wood, Adam Holroyd