WIGAN could be boosted by the return of a crucial quartet ahead of their daunting trip to Valley Parade.

The Warriors take on reigning Super League champions Bradford Bulls in their own back yard on Friday night, hoping to erase the memory of last year's Grand Final humiliation and this year's opening day defeat at the JJB Stadium.

Neither side would care to enter this tussle short-handed and Wigan's cause may be helped by four big name comebacks, who face a race against time to prove their fitness before the weekend.

Second row forwards Simon Haughton and David Furner are back in full training after picking up ankle and knee injuries respectively, while first choice backs Paul Johnson, knee, and Jamie Ainscough, neck, are also in contention.

And coach Stuart Raper may have to wait until the 11th hour before finding out which players he has at his disposal for the table-top clash.

"We are hoping that the four players who missed the Leeds game last week will all be available for selection," he said.

"I can't really put anyone ahead of the others in terms of who is most likely to be fit. They are all very close and I want to give them a bit more time before I decide."

The news comes as a welcome boost for Raper, who has rarely had the luxury of a full squad of players to choose from.

"You hear other coaches complaining about their injury problems but we haven't got as big a squad as everyone thinks. I have been down a player all year but I haven't been complaining," he added.

"These days you have a squad of 25 and when you've got players missing through injury and a lot of young players who you don't want to throw into a game like this, it makes it very difficult to make changes."

Warriors' pack may also breathe a sigh of relief after 18-stone Bulls prop Paul Anderson was ruled out of the clash through injury and Raper admitted his absence was a major blow to his opposite number, Brian Noble.

"I think Paul Anderson is a big loss to them," he said.

"He's one of their awesome foursome of props and probably their biggest forward. They will miss him and it will be interesting to see how they alter their rotation system without him."