Agar: Late Widnes kick-off can benefit Wakefield Wildcats in chase for Super League play-offs

Wildcats will go into their final home match of the regular season (kick-off 6.45pm) knowing the results of play-off rivals Bradford Bulls and Hull KR.

And Agar believes it should only boost his side as they search for a sixth win on the spin.

“Whatever way the Bradford game goes it’ll give us its own motivation,” he said.

“If Hull do manage to get the spoils [against Bradford] then we can see it’s all there for us, and if Bradford win it puts the onus on us more.

“We’ve had situations like that for the last couple of weeks and we’ve handled them ok.”

Agar says the break for the Carnegie Challenge Cup final has helped some of his men rest and refresh following their heroics of the last five matches.

It’s been “business as usual” on the training front, although the Cats coach admits to having watched more video footage than any other team this season, owing to the improvements in the Widnes ranks since the sides met in Round 1.

Agar has no fresh injury worries and will stick with the same 19-man squad named for Hull KR.

That includes Frankie Mariano, who’s close to agreeing a new-and-improved deal at the club for next season.

Agar said: “It’s taken a while and a fair bit of work but he’s getting to a level of performance now where he’s being a huge benefit to our team.

“If we can get Frankie over the line and re-sign then hopefully we’ll see some more progress next year.”

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