WIDNES Vikings expect to have a host of key players back for Sunday’s Super 8s round three clash at home to Wakefield Trinity.

Full back Rhys Hanbury and Stefan Marsh have both recovered from the head knocks they sustained at Catalans which forced them to miss last week’s home defeat by Hull.

However, centre Chris Dean, who also sustained a head knock in France, remains a doubt for the encounter with the eighth-place Yorkshiremen.

Denis Betts is hopeful of seeing prop Gil Dudson return to the fold and Charly Runciman is expected to line up in the centres after pulling up in training ahead of the Hull game.

Betts said: “We have got a long way to go and we get some troops back in the next couple of weeks and hopefully we can push on in the next five weeks.”

Although Vikings are out of contention for a semi-final spot, Betts was adamant that each one of the remaining five Super 8s games remain important and that the club have plenty to play for.

“I have never been in a rugby side where playing a game did not mean something - even if it was a friendly.

“Every game is important and it doesn’t matter if we cannot make fourth.”

One big factor on Sunday will be the need to post a good home display after the disappointment of the 38-0 defeat by Hull last Thursday.

Betts was bitterly disappointed with how that game turned out and admitted the better side won.

But in mitigation added: “It has been a tough couple of weeks with three blokes from the backline missing, 10 first choice players sat in the stand and the short turnaround.

“But the embarrassing thing for the lads is that we are are better defensive side than that.”

Sunday’s home game at the Select Security Stadium kicks off at 3pm.