Super League preview

Both men missed the Tigers’ defeat at Warrington a fortnight ago because of injury, while hooker Ryan Hudson is also back in the frame but stand-off Rangi Chase remains suspended.

“They will be great acquisitions for us,” said Castleford coach Ian Millward.

“We’ve lacked some outside backs and Richie is very important to us, especially with Rangi being out.”

The Tigers are aiming to halt a three-match losing run, which included a demoralising defeat to Featherstone in the fourth round of the Challenge Cup.

“Everybody was down after the Challenge Cup,” Millward added.

“It knocked the players around. But the break has probably done us a bit of good, it gave us a chance to work on some facets of our game.”

Widnes are strengthened by the return of former Wigan prop Ben Davies, who played seven matches while on loan to Castleford last season, as well as fellow front rower John Kite, scrum-half Rhys Hanbury, centre Chris Dean and second rower Simon Finnigan.

There is no place for second rower Anthony Mullally, who last week rejected the club’s final offer of a new contract.

The bottom of the table Vikings are aiming to halt a five-match losing run.

“Training has gone really well over the last couple of weeks and the extended lay-off has given us plenty of time to lick our wounds, assess ourselves, look at our systems and tidy up a couple of areas,” said coach Denis Betts.

“We’re all really looking forward to the game now and the lads are desperate to get back out there on the playing field.”