ANDY Farrell's Challenge Cup campaign looks all but over.

The Wigan Warriors skipper has been sidelined since picking up a knee injury on the first day of the Super League season but had hoped for a return to boost his struggling side for Sunday's semi-final showdown with Bradford Bulls.

Now not only is he a certain absentee for the clash at Huddersfield's McAlpine Stadium, but he would also be a major doubt for the final itself, leaving his chances of lifting the trophy for a second year running exceedingly slim.

Coach Stuart Raper would desperately love his leader back in harness for a game which will either ease or pile on the pressure built by one of Wigan's worst starts to a league campaign in nearly 20 years.

But, despite watching his charges slip to three defeats in five games, Raper insisted there was no chance of taking a gamble on a half-fit Farrell.

"Faz just isn't right yet," he said. "He's still a good three or four weeks away and some injuries you just can't take a risk with. I don't know if he would or wouldn't be fit for the final

but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

Frustratingly for Raper, Farrell is only the tip of his injury iceberg, with Brett Dallas, Stephen Wild and Mick Cassidy also out of action.

Mark Smith is expected to shake off a knock picked up at Hull but he may have to settle for a bench place, with Great Britain hooker Terry Ne wton set for a return to the starting 13.

Australian centre Jamie Ainscough could also make a return for the battle with the Bulls but the pressure could again fall on young shoulders, with the inexperienced trio of Luke Robinson, Kevin Brown and Dave Allen all on the verge of a call-up.c