Wolves look vulnerable without the might of Domic

Warrington face a major test of their character today without the player who has arguably shown the most of that commodity this season. Sid Domic will see a neurologist on Wednesday in an attempt to identify the illness that has sapped his strength, if not his determination, for several weeks.

Against St Helens last weekend, Domic worked himself to a standstill. In the second half, without him and the red-carded Jerome Guisset, Saints bullied their way to a 72-2 victory.

The Wolves coach, David Plange, would love to have Domic available against Castleford this afternoon, but says he cannot justify the risk. "He put his hand up to play last week and he's been at me again this week," Plange says. "But I'm not going to take that sort of risk with his health. I can't do anything which might affect him in later life."

Another Warrington player, Lee Briers, is not now thought to have been suffering from a similar virus when he missed last week's humiliation and he will be back in the side for this one.

"When Sid came over from Australia, he was ill a lot. That seems to have weakened his immune system – Richie Barnett at London appears to have had a similar thing," Plange says. "In Lee's case, it was more a matter of stress and he needed a week off." Plange knows that he will need all his best players available if he is to steer Warrington away from the threat of relegation and their three-cornered battle with Salford and Wakefield.

That is why he is pleased today to be able to welcome back the former Great Britain prop, Dale Laughton, following a back injury. "He doesn't say much, but when he does, everybody listens," he says. "He gives us credibility up front." Another who has helped greatly in that area, Mark Hilton, has been rewarded with a new, two-year contract this week after proving that he has put his atrocious luck with injuries behind him. Like the others who played in the débâcle against Saints, he has much to prove today.

Plange has told his players that some of them used the loss of Guisset – suspended for this match – as an alibi for a sub-standard effort last week. "But after that had been said, the mood has been very positive. If Castleford come here ill-prepared, they will pay the price."