WITH the 2019 Super League opener away to bitter rivals St Helens just five days away, Wigan Warriors head coach Adrian Lam is giving some of his players one last chance to earn a spot in the squad for that match.

This afternoon’s pre-season encounter with Barrow Raiders has seen Lam name a 23-man squad featuring a mix of first-team players eager to press home their case for a spot and promising youngsters.

Unfortunately for Raiders fans, Joe Bullock will not be playing for the visitors after making his move to the Super League champions during the off-season.

Former Barrow man Chris Hankinson and Dalton youth product Liam Paisley are in the squad though, along with ex-Workington Town players Jarrod Sammut and Jake Shorrocks.

Half-back Shorrocks is one of those hoping to impress enough to earn a regular place in Wigan’s first-team, having spent the 2018 season on loan at fellow Super League side Salford Red Devils.

“I want to play for Wigan,” said Shorrocks. “I’m trying to put my best foot forward in training and in the pre-season games.

“Hopefully, Lammy (Lam) can see something that I can bring to the team and if I get my shot then it will be great.

“Saturday’s game is another opportunity to show what I can do in front of Lammy, as I also played against London and Salford.

“He will get to see the boys play another 80 minutes, and hopefully I can get some more game time and put a good performance together.”

Wigan played two friendlies in three days last weekend, facing London Skolars on the Friday and Salford on the Sunday.

And Bullock, who scored against the Skolars and featured off the bench against Salford, was one of those who caught the eye of Lam.

“I think Joe Bullock was pretty good so probably impressed me the most out of everyone so I was happy with him,” said Lam.

“We get a bit of a feel how rest of the squad are now.”