CHRIS Ashton looks set for a recall to the starting line-up for Wigan's Super League clash with Salford City Reds.

The teen ace, linked with a move to rugby union, was left out of last week's 16-12 victory against Harlequins.

But Warriors coach Brian Noble, who said Ashton had been left out for footballing reasons rather than anything more sinister, has recalled the 19-year-old for tonight's televised game at The Willows (kick-off 8pm).

Ashton, who is out of contract at the end of the season, has yet to sign a new deal at the JJB and is rumoured to be considering crossing codes.

But, with Michael Withers ruled out through injury, Noble has included the England full-back in his 17-man squad.

"We'd like Chris to be making headlines on the field," said the Wigan boss, with reference to the speculation linking Ashton with Guinness Premiership clubs Northampton, Leicester and London Irish.

"He didn't play last week because I thought, and the coaches thought, his form wasn't good enough.

"But he has reacted well and trained hard - as he did last week - and will be in the 17 for the game."

Noble, who hinted he could be interested in a possible swoop for Wigan old boy Brian Carney after the winger was this week released from his former club, NRL's Gold Coast Titans, has demanded greater consistency from his side ahead of tonight's showdown.

"The last time we got a win we were disappointed the week after and didn't get what we wanted.

"We need further improvement on last week, and greater consistency in practice and performance.

"But we've got two new rudders (Trent Barrett and Thomas Leuluai) who are completely new. We've also had a new number nine at times as well.

"Those combinations and that kind of fluency takes a few weeks to get up to speed, and the only way you can do that is in games."

But the Wigan chief knows it will not be easy against a Salford side smarting from their humiliating 56-18 defeat at Bradford Bulls last week.

Noble knows Reds coach, Karl Harrison, and assistant, Jimmy Lowes, from his time at Odsal - and he is predicting a fired-up Salford side tonight.

He said: "I know their coaching staff, intimately, and their playing staff, and I know it will be really tough.

"They would have been embarrassed by that as anyone would have been - as we were after our first half showing against Hull KR - but they will be a different team tonight."

Warriors 18-man squad: Ashton, Calderwood, Bailey, Richards, Barrett, Leuluai, Fielden, Higham, Paleaaesina, Hock, Fletcher, O'Loughlin, Vaealiki, Millard, Prescott, Hansen, Hill, O'Carroll.

FIXTURES TONIGHT Super League: Salford v Wigan (8pm); Wakefield v Leeds (8pm).

Northern Rail National League Cup Cross-group match: She ffield v Castleford (8pm).

Northern Rail National League Cup Group One: Barrow v Whitehaven (7.30pm).

TOMORROW Super League: Catalans Dragons v Huddersfield (7.30pm); Harlequins RL v Bradford; Hull v St Helens (6pm).