GREAT Britain coach Brian Noble will name a successor to Andrew Farrell next Tuesday, with Paul Sculthorpe almost certain to be handed the captain's armband.
Noble and his Great Britain management tean, including Giants coach and Lions No2 Jon Sharp, will announce the new skipper along with a provisional squad for a mid-season training camp.
Farrell has led his country for the last 29 Tests since inheriting the captaincy from another Wigan legend, Shaun Edwards, in 1996 but his record run ended with his shock cross-code switch to Saracens.
Sculthorpe, who was vice-captain throughout the 2004 Gillette Tri-Nations Series, is seen as the automatic choice to succeed Farrell, with Bradford skipper Jamie Peacock thought to be his nearest challenger.
The 27-year-old Sculthorpe, who has won 25 caps since making his debut against Papua New Guinea in 1996, is currently captain of St Helens and has made no secret of his desire to lead his country.
He is currently out of action with a lower back injury but should be fit to take part in the training camp in the summer which is preparation for the end-of-season Tri-Nations Series.
