Week 17 of Super League comes to a close this afternoon as teams at the wrong end of the table try to improve their fortunes.

Both games will start at 3pm BST, with Wakefield Trinity facing a tricky clash at home to title-chasing Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves welcoming Salford Red Devils to the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Wigan eager to lay down away marker

At the start of the 2022 campaign, the jury was out on Wigan as they started the season with a new squad and an inexperienced manager. 

Fast forward five months and the Cherry and Whites are firmly in the title battle and they are hot on the heels of table-toppers St Helens.

The Warriors have won 12 of their first 16 matches and they will have no concerns about chalking up another victory as they prepare to head to West Yorkshire to tackle Wakefield, who have only won five of their games so far this season.

Wakefield, who have only recorded two wins in their previous 10 battles against Wigan, are bound to be low on morale after they were thumped 74-10 by Salford last week, while injuries are also not helping with four of their backs sidelined.

Wigan coach Matt Peet has named an unchanged squad after last week's 40-6 victory over Toulouse and that continuity should play into their hands today. 

Play-off push dominates Halliwell Jones clash

Nobody expected Warrington to be below Salford Red Devils in the Super League table at this stage of the season, but that is the situation that Daryl Powell's side find themselves in.

Although both teams have amassed 12 points from 16 matches, it is Salford that are one place ahead of the Wolves due to their superior points difference.

A win for either side would be massive as they attempt to salvage a place in the playoffs, with Hull FC currently sitting in the sixth and final spot.

Powell may hand debuts to three new arrivals as Jake Wardle, Matty Nicholson and Greg Minikin all look to make their first appearances in Warrington colours.

As for Salford, they have only named 19 players in their squad, with 10 members of their team unavailable through injury and suspension.

With Salford's lack of options, today's trip to Warrington could be a battle too far and the Wire have a solid record against the Red Devils — winning the previous three meetings.

Warrington have also not lost against Salford at home since 2019 and it would be no surprise to see another victory chalked up.