It shouldn’t take long to work out which individual battle most fans will be watching out for on Thursday night.
One of Zak Hardaker, Jake Connor and Sam Tomkins will almost certainly be Shaun Wane’s full-back for this autumn’s World Cup, and for the first time this season, two of them collide on Thursday when Hardaker’s Wigan take on Connor’s Hull.
Both teams are putting their unbeaten records on the line, making this a fascinating enough contest as it is. But the battle between Hardaker and Connor - who have both been instrumental in their teams’ starts to 2021 - will be definitely one to track.
The similarities between both are intriguing. Unbelievably talented, and with the possibility to open up a game at any moment, Hardaker and Connor are both excelling at full-back having spent large parts of last season playing in different positions.
But they have certainly made the role their own so far this year. You suspect whichever full-back it is that comes out on top will be the one whose side remains unbeaten on Thursday night. One thing is for sure: Wane will be keeping an eye on both of them.
Big night for Smith
Harry Smith will no doubt have plenty of opportunities throughout 2021 to show he can be the long-term successor to Jackson Hastings at Wigan.
But on Thursday, he will get another chance alongside the man he is aiming to succeed. The teenage half-back has made an impressive start to life in the Warriors’ first-team, underlined by the fact the club recently rewarded him with a new long-term deal.
And with Tommy Leuluai out due to injury, these are the nights when Smith can underpin his growing reputation in the sport by helping Wigan to victory in what will arguably be their toughest test of 2021 so far.
Smith looks to have the potential to go all the way in the game, and while the Warriors will undoubtedly have their eye on the transfer market to see if any external replacements for Hastings materialise, they may already have the answer right under their nose.
Wigan fans will certainly be hoping Smith takes his latest chance with both hands on Thursday.
Bibby's England push
There have been individual success stories all across the field for Wigan so far in 2021, but none perhaps as impressive as Jake Bibby’s.
The former Salford winger is the joint-top try-scorer in Super League following the opening month of the season, tied with Regan Grace and Fouad Yaha on five tries.
It has been some start from Bibby, who is already showing that he has the ability to not only be a regular fixture in Wigan’s backline when their first-team regulars return to fitness, but perhaps even force his way into the international mix, too.
His utility value, with Bibby equally adept on the wing or in the centres, could make him an asset for Shaun Wane as he looks to select a squad capable of going all the way in the World Cup later this year.
There is still a long way to go before a first call-up beckons yet, but as starts go, Bibby could not have done much more to this point.
