WIGAN have admitted the double header with rugby union club Bath is providing a crucial financial lifeline.

Commercial manager Dave Bradshaw said the games, which are expected to raise around £2 million, were a welcome alternative to missing out on the Wembley windfall.

"That wasn't taken into account when the idea was conceived about six months ago, but it is now a necessity in financial terms," he said.

Wigan say 20,000 tickets had already been sold before the weekend for tomorrow's game at Maine Road - and officials are hoping there could yet be a 32,000 sell-out.

All 82 executive boxes at the Manchester City football ground have been snapped up, while all 120 have already gone for the Twickenham return. Bath will be without several of their double-winning stars for the first game having left out three Scots who are touring New Zealand with their country later this month - Andy Nicol, Eric Peters and Dave Hilton - although Hilton could make an appearance from the bench.

Also omitted from the starting line-up are Graham Dawe (unavailable), John Mallett (injured) and lock Nigel Redman, whose line-out skills are superfluous in rugby league. However, Redman is among the replacements.

Wigan, by contrast, have their strongest available squad including former union star Martin Offiah who has recovered from a back injury.

The Wigan side will include former Welsh rugby union international forward Scott Quinnell, who it was announced today will return to rugby union with Courage League second division outfit Richmond.

Wigan: Radlinski; Robinson, Tuigamala, Connolly, Offiah; Paul, Edwards; Cowie, Hall, O'Connor, Quinnell, Cassidy, Farrell. Substitutes (from): Skerrett, Haughton, Smyth, Murdock, Johnson. Bath: Lumsden; Sleightholme, Waters, De Glanville, Adebayo; Catt, Callard; Yates, Sanders, Vander, Haag, Ojomoh, Robinson. Substitutes (from): Redman, Hilton, Butland, Johnson, Pearce, McCarthy.

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