Widnes' half-back curse has struck again with vice-captain Tom Gilmore ruled out for up to 10 weeks through injury.
Widnes were pinning their hopes on Gilmore following the shock departure of Kevin Brown to Warrington and the loss of his old half-back partner Joe Mellor to a knee injury in the club's pre-season friendly against the Wolves.
Now it has been revealed that Gilmore could miss at least the next two months after the ankle sprain he sustained in the Vikings' opening Super League game against Huddersfield a fortnight ago was diagnosed as a syndesmosis injury.
Widnes coach Denis Betts said: "It is the curse of my half-backs at the moment. We have lost three in the space between pre-season and the start of the year."
Betts is likely to switch hooker Aaron Heremaia or utility back Danny Craven to half-back alongside makeshift stand-off Chris Bridge for Friday's trip to Wigan.
