sport

Widnes v Bradford preview

Widnes have been forced into making changes for Friday night's Super League clash with Bradford at the Stobart Stadium.

Vikings' coach Denis Betts brings in full-back Shaun Briscoe and three-quarter Willie Isa, along with forwards Dave Allen, Magraff Leuluai and Phil Joseph, following the loss of centres Cameron Phelps and Stefan Marsh and stand-off Kevin Brown to injury following his side's 36-16 win over Hull.

Bradford are unchanged from their impressive 43-18 win over table toppers Huddersfield Giants last time out.

The Bulls expect hooker Matt Diskin to return after missing the win over Huddersfield with a dead leg, while prop Manase Manuokafoa is hoping to shake off a shoulder knock sustained against the Giants.

The visitors will be confident of securing maximum points against a side they have not lost to since 2005, but Francis Cummins is taking nothing for granted.

He said: "They had what is probably the best win of the season for them and probably for a while, so they will be coming into this game full of confidence.

"They showed some real attacking flair last week and they are a big threat to us, one because of the short turnaround but also the fact that they put thirty points past a team as good as Hull."

Widnes squad: Ah Van, Allen, Briscoe, Cahill, Clarke, Cross, Dean, Flynn, Gerrard, Hanbury, Hock, Isa, Joesph, Kavanagh, Leuluai, Mellor, O'Carroll, White, Winterstein

Bradford squad: Donaldson, Sidlow, O'Brien, Manuokafoa, Langley, Diskin, Kearney, Scruton, L'Estrange, Blythe, Lulia, Whitehead, Kear, Sammut, Addy, Olbison, Walker, Murphy, Foster