Wigan boss Matt Peet has recalled Iain Thornley and included the centre in his 21-man squad to take on St Helens in the Good Friday derby.
It is the first time the 31-year has been included in Wigan’s squad this year, having recently recovered from a knee injury.
Thornley made his return in the Championship on loan with Barrow in March, scoring a try on his first appearance against Halifax in the 16-12 victory at the Matt Johnson Prestige Stadium.
He joined Paul Crarey’s side on an initial one-month loan, but has been recalled early.
Meanwhile, Tom Forber has also returned following a loan spell with fellow Super League side Wakefield. The 19-year-old featured against St Helens and Hull KR from the bench for Mark Applegarth’s side.
Junior Nsemba has also been included to take on the world champions.
In total, Peet has made three changes to his Wigan squad, with Jai Field, Willie Isa and Cade Cust missing out.
Field, 25, will be sidelined for up to 10 weeks due to a hamstring injury sustained in the win over Leigh, although boss Peet admitted he was fearing the worst after the speedster left the field in the latter stages of their 34-6 victory over the Leopards.
Playmaker Cust, 24, will also be forced to watch from the sidelines this Friday. Peet confirmed a neck injury to the Australian half-back ahead of their Round Seven clash with the Leopards.
Isa, 34, lost his appeal against his one-match ban for a Grade B late contact on passer.
Liam Marshall has been named after missing the Super League Round Seven fixture against Leigh due to a foot injury. His absence saw Abbas Miski make his first appearance of the season, scoring twice in the victory.
St Helens welcome back duo
Forward trio Sione Mata’utia, Jake Wingfield and Agnatius Paasi return to Paul Wellens’ squad ahead of the short trip to the DW Stadium.
Mata’utia, 26, missed the win over Wakefield due to head injury protocols, while Paasi was also absent in the home victory.
A shoulder issue has seen Wingfield, 21, miss out on their last two fixtures, but he could return to the field on Friday.
Alex Walmsley misses out after Wellens confirmed a hamstring injury to the prop forward that will sideline the England international for up to four weeks.
Wigan: French, King, Wardle, Marshall, Smith, Singleton, Powell, Byrne, Farrell, Smithies, Cooper, Ellis, Havard, Pearce-Paul, Shorrocks, Mago, Thornley, O’Neill, Miski, Nsemba, Forber.
St Helens: Welsby, Makinson, Hopoate, Percival, Bennison, Lomax, Dodd, Roby, Lees, Mata’utia, Knowles, Lussick, LMS, Sironen, Paasi, Wingfield, Bell, Royle, Hurrell, Ritson, Delaney.
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