WIDNES Vikings welcome back concussion victim Aaron Heremaia for Friday’s home game against Salford, but prop Gil Dusdon will be sidelined for up to six weeks after straining an ankle.

Heremaia’s return to that dummy half role, in tandem with the on-song Lloyd White, could be crucial in Vikings’ mission to climb as high as they can up the Super League table.

Although Vikings are not mathematically clear in the top 8, it would take two Vikings defeats and a remarkable turnaround in Hull KR’s points difference to deny them.

Coach Denis Betts said: “We don’t want to look down, we are not worried about not making the eight we want to finish as high as we can in the table.

“There are nine games left to put this club where it has not been for a long, long time which is in a strong position in the league.”

He said: “Lloyd White ran his blood to water – it was tough at the weekend for him.

“Comparing him to James Roby, who plays 80 minutes in that position is hard to do because he is a bit of a freak. “Lloyd in that position after a short turnaround was pretty outstanding.

The loss Dudson is a blow to Vikings given how well the former Wigan prop had been playing, but that is softened slightly by the promising debut of Greg Burke - another ex-Warriors front rower.

“It is disappointing because Gil has really found his straps this last two months, but he could be out for five to six weeks with badly strained ankle ligaments which take time,” Betts added.

“Greg Burke came on and did a really good job for us, you bring players in and try and generate a bit of competition for places. Greg came in and looked pretty solid.

“We are still waiting on Eamon O’Carroll to see how he is progressing.

“But as soon as Greg came in we lose one, its one in, one out.

“Greg can play the game and comes from a good school and has learned plenty of lessons in his education as a rugby player and knows what is expected of him.”

Burke’s arrival on a two-and-a-half year deal is part of the club’s evolutionary approach to team building as Vikings seek to climb year on year, while taking into account their gates and income.

Betts said: “We are looking at constantly trying to evolve the side without ripping it to pieces.

“We can’t do what Hull did and go out and spend a lot of money and invest massively in the team and it is paying we are not a club that can afford to do that.

“We have a small steady progression to get us to a point where our academy and junior section get us to the point where they can support our senior side.”

But first thing is first, and on Friday night they will be keen to give home fans a victory after a change in fortunes on the home and away front this term.

They tackle a Salford side that, since the decision to dock them six points for salary cap breaches, will be playing in the middle eights once the league splits.

But there has been a close rivalry between the two clubs in recent years, so Betts expects the Red Devils to come to play.

He said: “Salford have been a pretty solid side this year, plugged away and done some decent stuff.

“They are in a similar to us on the table and the competition between us over the last few years has been pretty intense.

“We want to win and want to win here.

“The last few years we have been pretty solid at home, but this year we have been solid away.

“To get back to winning ways here would be good.”

Friday’s home game kicks off at 8pm.