Wigan Warriors could receive a triple boost on the injury front for Friday night's meeting with Toulouse Olympique. Wigan take on Super League's bottom side as they look to take another significant step towards a top-two finish ahead of the play-offs.
And they will receive a significant shot in the arm on the injury front for that game, with as many as three key forwards set to return. John Bateman will definitely feature after overcoming a rib injury to take his place in Matt Peet's 21-man squad, while Liam Farrell, who wasn't risked during last week's defeat at Wakefield, is also fit.
Morgan Smithies, who pulled out in the warm-up at Wakefield last Sunday, is also in contention and will be monitored throughout the coming days. "He's in the squad and we're checking him tomorrow," Peet said, before adding: "We won't push him if there's any doubt."
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On Bateman's return, Peet said: "It's a timely boost. He's worked very hard and he's been dying to play for a while now. He's looking great in training, he brings that leadership to us as well."
Peet said that with such a hectic run of fixtures on the horizon, every decision they make such as delaying Farrell's return last week, and being cautious with Smithies, is with the period of four games in barely over two weeks in mind.
"We've been prepared for that for a long time now," the Warriors coach said. "We knew it was coming. Our squad decisions like holding Liam back, not rushing Morgan, bringing James (McDonnell) back and getting him playing have all been part of that."
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