Fielden: Wigan expects

Brian Noble will get Wigan fired up for this one. This is a different game and it's about bragging rights in the town. I reckon this could be one of the best games we have seen for a very long time.

Stevo
Quotes of the week

St Helens v Wigan
Friday 5th Sept, 8pm, Sky Sports 1 & HD1

Do you rest some players or do you concentrate on your old foe? That was the question that Daniel Anderson put to his St Helens players who, to their credit, said they wanted to play against Wigan.

They know they have to beat the arch enemy to consolidate and to win their third league leaders' trophy - two trophies in seven days is not bad going is it?

It just shows you the professionalism that has been encouraged ever since Anderson took over at Saints. I think he has had one of the biggest impacts of any coach that has ever come to this country.

I for one am delighted that Saints have been granted permission for a new stadium. A team of this quality needs to be playing at a ground of the highest level with the capacity to pull in as many fans as possible. They deserve it.

A lot of people think that the St Helens players have been celebrating their Challenge Cup trophy all week.

If they had not won a trophy for 10 years or so then maybe. But this side is so professional that the fear of possibly losing a trophy would have kept them very focused.

Anderson wants to leave a great legacy. He has been a shrewd operator and I think that the clash between the two coaches will be fascinating too.

Both of them know how to win the big games. Brian Noble will get Wigan fired up for this one. This is a different game and it's about bragging rights in the area. I reckon this could be one of the best games we have seen for a very long time, Wigan will give their all.

Once again I am going to highlight the likes of Mick Higham and Stuart Fielden as key players for Wigan.

Fielden has to keep on impressing the England coach Tony Smith, he has to keep on banging away.

Fielden has to realise that if Wigan do come up with the goods tomorrow night, it will be mainly down to him. That is some expectation, but he is getting back to his best and I really think he can perform under the pressure.

As for Saints, well, where do you start? They are a team in every sense of the word and have class throughout the squad. All I can say is hold on to your seats, because this one is going to be a cracker. Don't miss it!

Stevo says

I think Saints will take this one in a pretty tight game. Wigan had a fortnight rest and Saints did look tired at Wembley - it was very hot and that would have certainly taken a lot of energy out of them. But you still would not bet against them. I think it will be a lot closer than people think though and Wigan are not going to let Saints have everything their own way.