SALFORD will be locking horns with old rivals Widnes in the battle for one of the coveted Super League licences.
With all 12 current Super League clubs set to be granted a franchise, the strongest candidates for the remaining two places are Salford, Widnes, Celtic Crusaders from Wales and French side Toulouse.
However, with the Rugby Football League keen to spread the sport into the valleys, Celtic Crusaders, who play at Bridgend, have emerged as favourites leaving one place likely to be decided by a head-to-head between Salford and Widnes, with Toulouse an outside bet.
RFL's determination to break rugby union's stranglehold on Wales has already seen a full round of Super League matches played at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
Toulouse have the edge over Leigh, Featherstone and Halifax due to the RFL's wish to take the sport into Europe, which has seen them include Catalans Dragons in the top flight previously.
But Salford and Widnes have history on their side and already locked horns in National League One this season in two titanic battles - an epic 16-16 draw at The Willows in April and a narrow 20-18 Widnes victory at Halton in June.
Widnes are one of the traditional heavyweights of rugby league and have a successful history peppered with Challenge Cup glory achieved with world-famous names including Jonathan Davies and Martin Offiah.
They have a fantastic new stadium in The Stobart Stadium Halton, which stands proudly on the site of the old Naughton Park, and new chairman Steve O'Connor carries plenty of clout as a high-flying director at haulage firm Eddie Stobart.
However, the Vikings have suffered financial woes repeatedly over the years and went into administration only last year, which saw them hit with a 10 point deduction for the start of the National League One season.
Salford have played in the top division for the majority of Super League's history. They have already won the Northern Rail Cup this season and are favourites to win National League One.
The Reds have an impeccable financial set up, thanks to long-serving chairman John Wilkinson and with a move to the City of Salford Stadium on the horizon, they look set to prosper further.
Salford's location as the only professional club within the Manchester conurbation is also an advantage, where as Widnes have big clubs on their doorstep in Warrington and St Helens.
There is no love lost between the sides. Before the game in April, Salford's director of football Steve Simms slammed Widnes' franchise bid, saying: "Our case is definitely better than the Widnes one. For starters, we have never had major financial problems and we have never ended up in administration."
Widnes hit back with a press release stating support from some of rugby's biggest names, including England union international Jason Robinson, who said: "The name Widnes in rugby league circles is famous throughout the world."
