Friday, 5 September 2008

Will Wigan and Leeds spoil the Saints party

Wigan will be hoping to ruin the homecoming of their arch rivals when they wind up their engage Super League campaign at Challenge Cup winners St Helens tonight.
Fresh from their Wembley triumph, Daniel Anderson's men will be presented with their second trophy in seven days - the League leaders' shield - if they extend their club record winning run to 22 matches.
If Saints slip up, Leeds can snatch top spot with a big win over Wakefield at Belle Vue in a match brought forward from Sunday to avoid either team gaining an advantage.
"It would be good to finish with a win," said outgoing coach Anderson, who has guided Saints to a first-place finish in each of his four seasons in charge
"We'd like to continue our form and keep winning.
"Spirit and morale in the camp is high and there is no reason for us to give anything away. We'd like to make it hard for Wigan."
Wigan still have an outside chance of securing fourth place - and a home tie in the play-offs - but they could also finish as low as sixth if they lose and both Warrington and Bradford win their final league games tomorrow.
The Warriors pulled off a 20-12 win over Saints in the last match of last season to clinch their play-off spot but have conceded 149 points in the three derbies since then and it is five years since their last win at Knowsley Road.
"They've not probably have played as well as they'd like to but sometimes that can be put down to the quality of the opposition and how well they let you play," Anderson added.
"I don't think we've played badly against them at all."
Leeds go to Belle Vue with virtually a full-strength side, with winger Scott Donald and forwards Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Ryan Bailey and Ian Kirke all returning from injury, as they look to make it four wins in a row.
Rhinos coach Brian McClennan said: "Everyone has come back into training and they are really looking forward to the game.
"We really feel like we have been making good progress in recent weeks and we are looking for a good performance at Wakefield.
"The team are in good shape, they are eager and fresh and want to get out there and play. We are excited that we are improving and it is good to have some troops back on board this week."
Scotland's Australian-born international Duncan MacGillivray will captain Wakefield on his final appearance in Super League ahead of his retirement at the end of the World Cup.

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