By Paul Birch

Wakefield v Wigan Sunday 2 April Live on BBC Two from 1340

Having played alongside the likes of Ellery Hanley and Shaun Edwards, Wigan legend Martin Offiah is well placed to pass comment on how important strong leadership is to a successful side.

Bottom of Super League XI and facing a tricky Challenge Cup tie away at Wakefield on Sunday, Wigan need men of strength to take their season by the scruff of the neck.

But it is the lack of a totem-like figure amongst the current Warriors squad which is causing Offiah concern.

Wigan have struggled to fill the void created by the departure of captain Andy Farrell to rugby union, the retirement of Kris Radlinski, and Terry Newton's move to Bradford.

Offiah believes the triple loss has hit the club hard.

"Wigan have lost Newton, Farrell and Radlinski, and I don't think those players have been replaced," he told BBC Sport.

"The players that have come into the club haven't really performed to the level they would have wanted to perform at.

"Wigan have been missing the presence of a Farrell or Edwards type of character who could take the weight of the world on his shoulders.

"Ian Millward can coach as much as he wants to coach, but when he sends a team on to the pitch, you do need leaders.

Shaun Edwards was an inspirational figure for Wigan in the late 1980's and 1990's

"I look round the Wigan team and think 'who in that team is confident enough to be able to look the other players in the eye and demand more of them?'

"That's what people like Farrell and Hanley did. They looked you in the eye when things were going wrong."

Wigan have won a record 17 Challenge Cups, yet four-time winner Offiah says they have little chance of adding to that tally unless certain players stand up to be counted.

He believes that unless they do start performing, those players will be looking for alternative employment next season.

"Danny Orr is a player who a lot of people thought was going to be a world beater when he came from Castleford, but sometimes it just doesn't gel for you," he said.

"For someone like Orr, his career is on the line - and if Wigan go down he can probably kiss goodbye to his international future and could kiss goodbye to his Super League future.

"There are a lot of players at Wigan now who have to think more than just about being dropped. Their careers are on the line.

"I was in a similar position in 1993. When things like that happen, you think to yourself 'I can either sink or swim'.

"If you are a player at a big club or on a big wage you have to make things happen otherwise you won't be there much longer.

"That's the harsh reality of sport."

The match against Wakefield will be an intriguing marker as the two sides meet again in the league the following week.

Wigan have no divine right to be successful Martin Offiah

The Wildcats currently sit above Wigan on goal difference and Offiah thinks an important psychological blow will be struck by whichever team comes out on top on Sunday.

"Wakefield are our closest rivals in the Super League," he said.

"Confidence is a big thing in sport. If Wakefield turn Wigan over it's going to give them a huge amount of confidence to go on and think 'we might not get relegated this season'.

"When you are in a relegation battle, you want to beat the teams around you.

"You can afford to lose to the likes of Bradford but you can't really afford to lose to the likes of Wakefield and Castleford on a regular basis.

"You don't need to be a rocket scientist to work that out.

"Wigan have no divine right to be successful and the only thing a great sporting dynasty does is be a weight round your neck."

Wakefield v Wigan is live on BBC Two and this website at 1400 BST on Sunday. Bradford v Hull is also live on Saturday at 1430 BST on BBC One.