Brian Noble
Ex-Great Britain coach on BBC Two

Today is as much about holding your nerve as it is skill. There was a lot of talk earlier about whether Salford have the experience to show up - but with players like Michael Dobson, Todd Carney and Manu Vatuvei, I'd be disappointed if they didn't. But the experience is with this Wigan side, certainly.

Try chalked off for a foot in touch! We saw just how quickly Wigan turn defence to attack though... end-to-end start!

Salford throw some big men at Wigan. Junior Sa'u drives, Lama Tasi drives, Niall Evalds is snared, Weller Hauraki held out, Ben Murdoch-Masila has a dig and on the last Todd Carney's kick is mopped up.

Then Wigan break and Tom Davies thinks he's scored!

Salford almost force a drop out off the kick-off! Forcing Wigan back. Forcing an error! What a start. Scrum head and feed 10 metres out from the Wigan line!

The time for talking is over.

Teams are out, fans in good voice. Referee James Child is ready.

Salford get us under way!

Okeydoke. Decision time.

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Robbie Hunter-Paul
Former New Zealand international on BBC Two

What Salford have is real power, none more so than in Manu Vatuvei. He will shatter defensive lines. Junior Sau is another power player. If they get opportunities one-on-one, they'll be very difficult to stop.

Image source, swpix.com

In rugby league, a team could have Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk playing in their halves, but if the pack aren't giving them a platform then they might as well have Jonathan Ross and Tommy Cooper standing at first and second receiver.

Thankfully for Salford's trio of playmakers Rob Lui, Michael Dobson and Todd Carney, they don't need to worry about that. The Red Devils have a beast-mode pack.

One of the reasons for that is the defence-smashing, tackle-making, bulldozing back-rower Ben Murdoch-Masila. The former Wests Tigers and Penrith forward is a one-man A-Team, and a genuine contender for the end of season Man of Steel award. Wigan will be wary.

Robbie Hunter-Paul
Former New Zealand international on BBC Two

One of the big things we've been talking about is how many of Wigan's big players are coming back from injuries.

But what makes this Wigan team so successful is their ability to control the speed. Frank-Paul Nu'uausala is a powerhouse for the team - when he does his job, he gets on top defensively.

Wigan stand-off George Williams is a genuine danger man, whether it's kicking out of hand, running at the line or finding the perfect pass.

He has 26 try assists this season in Super League, the best in the league, not to mention nine scores of his own.

There's a big chance he will be the starting six when England line up at this autumn's World Cup down under.

Image source, Getty Images

Wigan were having a shocker of a season even with master coach Brian Noble at the helm and Salford added to their woes in this Challenge Cup round five upset at the Willows.

Salford raced into a 16-0 lead thanks to tries from Sean Rutgerson, Wigan-born Stuart Littler and Aaron Moule, before Pat Richards added a consolation score for the Warriors.

Wigan skipper Sean O'Loughlin is the only survivor from that side in the current team.

Image source, Getty Images

Wigan's dominance of the Challenge Cup in the late 1980s and the first part of the 1990s all started with their 1988 success.

Holders Halifax were beaten in the final that year but another irresistible performance in the semis, against Kevin Ashcroft's Salford in an absolute mudbath, was part of their march to the trophy.

Two tries from Shaun Edwards, added to scores from the Iro brothers Kevin and Tony, hooker Nicky Kiss and a Ellery Hanley try to finish overpowered Salford - whose one try came from current CEO Ian Blease.

Image source, Getty Images

No holding back from Salford Red Devils owner Marwan Koukash ahead of this afternoon's game

"Regardless of what happens on Sunday, we've had a fantastic season so far, we are in the semi-final of the Challenge Cup, we are in the top four of Super League," he told BBC Radio Manchester.

"But more importantly, we are the top North West team.

"We are three points ahead of Wigan Warriors in the league so on paper we are a better team than them."

We'll see if the Doctor has to eat his words...

Good to see the Salford fans buying into the Challenge Cup. Securing a trip to Wembley would be a big springboard for the club.

Although, Wigan fans not doing too badly either...

I don't envy Andy and Alison Tomkins this afternoon, the parents of Sam, Joel and Logan.

Two of their sons, Sam and Joel, will wear the cherry and white of Wigan. Logan will stand on the opposite side for Salford.

Someone's going to be upset. Not that they're letting it show beforehand with this great video from BBC Sport.

Image source, Getty Images

Sam Tomkins knows one of his opponents better than most. He played alongside Salford's new signing Manu Vatuvei during his time at NRL side New Zealand Warriors and knows how much of a threat he can be.

"Manu is a brilliant signing for Salford. He's dangerous, massive and he's fast so if he runs at you, you don't want to be the guy in front of him," Tomkins said.

"I quickly found that out when I moved to New Zealand Warriors and I did a contact session with him. I didn't know what the drill was so I paired up with Manu and I swapped partners when I realised it was just running to each other.

"They call him 'The Beast' in New Zealand and for good reason."

Jon Wilkin
Former England international on BBC Two

I think Salford have shown aspiration to get into the big games. Their league form has shown they're heading in the right direction.

That being said, the last two months have been difficult for them. They're not necessarily coming into this game in the form they want and Wigan have the big-game experience.

Image source, Getty Images

What an occasion to make your first appearance in northern hemisphere rugby league - a Challenge Cup semi-final. Mind you, a player of Manu Vatuvei's stature deserves a big stage. He's got one today.

Vatuvei joins back-rower Tyrone McCarthy - a winner with Warrington - as newcomers to the squad.

Jake Bibby, Robert Lui, Dan Murray and Ryan Lannon miss out, with Todd Carney, Vatuvei, McCarthy and big front-rower Craig Kopczak coming into Ian Watson's squad.

Salford: Evalds; Vatuvei, Sa'u, Welham, Johnson; Carney, Dobson; Kopczak, L. Tomkins, Tasi, Jones, Murdoch-Masila, Hauraki

Reps: O'Brien, McCarthy, Krasniqi, Griffin

Image source, swpix.com

Just one change for Wigan, who welcome back Joel Tomkins but keep faith with the starting 13 that smashed an inexperienced Leeds 34-0 last time out.

Tomkins senior takes his place on the bench for Jack Wells, but Liam Farrell misses out as he's not quite recovered. Wigan have a huge bench, with Tomkins, Tony Clubb and Taulima Tautai and a bit of craft in Sam Powell.

Wigan: S. Tomkins; Davies, Gelling, Gildart, Burgess; Williams, Leuluai; Nuuausala, McIlorum, Sutton, Bateman, Isa, O'Loughlin

Reps: J. Tomkins, Clubb, Powell, Tautai

Welcome one and all to BBC Sport's coverage of the Challenge Cup semi-finals.

What an afternoon lies ahead for Wigan versus Salford at Warrington, on the back of a corker at Doncaster between Hull FC and Leeds yesterday.

Let's have a look at the two teams for today.