Terry Matterson

Castleford coach Terry Matterson will drop three players for the visit of Wigan on Sunday, with the other 14 players given the chance to atone for last week's crushing defeat by Leeds.

The Tigers, still smarting from their 76-12 humiliation at Headingley, are boosted by the return from injury of chief playmaker Brent Sherwin, full-back Richard Owen and goalkicking winger Kirk Dixon as they aim to keep alive their engage Super League play-off hopes.

"We've got two or three people back from injury and they'll go into the side," said Matterson. "But we need the other 14 to turn up as well."

He added: "There will be two or three people that don't get the opportunity to atone for last week. There are quite a few people who are very lucky."

Castleford, wooden spoonists last year, have won as many games as they have lost so far this season but last week's 14-try rout by the Rhinos has wreaked havoc with their points difference, which could prove crucial in the final placings.

"If you take three games out, we would be plus 100 but we're not going to be able to turn it around now, it's gone too far," said Matterson.

"But we're in a position where it's in our own hands, so if we're good enough, we'll get there - if we're not, we won't.

"The two points are important but it's even more important we bounce back from the disappointment of last week. We were embarrassed and we need to regain some pride. It was pretty tough to take for everyone."