WELL, it’s Saints v Wigan this Friday in what I’m convinced will be a rehearsal for the big dance at Old Trafford next month!

Saints have again been clearly the best team throughout the regular season, and are currently six points clear at the top of the Betfred Super League table with only three rounds remaining. This meaning that we can secure the League Leaders title on Friday at the home of our fiercest rivals. What more reason do you need to perform?

Both teams come into this game in great form. Saints continued their undefeated home record with a Tommy Makinson-inspired 38-12 destruction of Hull KR, while Warriors pretty much sealed Toulouse’s Super League relegation with 52-6 hammering at the DW Stadium.

This will be the fourth derby of the year with Saints taking the four Betfred Super League points at home and Magic weekend, while Warriors claimed the do-or-die Betfred Challenge Cup semi final at Elland Road. This tells me there will not be much between the teams come Friday evening. However, on paper and with both teams being at their best I not surprisingly tip Saints to reign.

Warriors have a vastly improved attack in 2022 under Matty Peet, with far more expansion with the ball through half-backs Smith and Cust, and the obvious threat of speedsters Bevan French and Jai Field.

The latter two have seemingly struck up a great relationship, working together causing no end of troubles for opposing defenders. I’m sure a big part of Kristian Woolf’s game preparation is nullifying this through an aggressive yet controlled and organised defence.

A big part of that preparation will be discipline too. These games are always fiery encounters, so it is important to meet fire with fire, but in composed yet merciless manner.

After a pretty much perfect first 40 minutes against the Robins, the champions came out of the dressing rooms at 20-0 and were second best for parts the half. Penalties, missed tackles and cheap errors contributing to Rovers scoring three late unconverted tries.

Now, the result was never ever in doubt, but as the boss said in his post match interview the players need to be more clinical and get in the mindset for the big end of season run in, where games will ramp up in intensity and importance.

This game will be one of those, as the home side look to secure the all important second place ahead of Huddersfield Giants, and earn a week off before the semi-finals.

Woolf, in his press conference, also gave big wraps to two players who don’t always get the plaudits they deserve…Jake Wingfield, whom I praised in last week’s column, also another one of my favourites, prop Matty Lees. Matty consistently puts his body on the line in both attack and defence, with a work rate second to none. He will be a key figure in Saints’ end of season finish.

So who’s going to win!? It’s all on the day, and with two of the matches this year only being separated by two points I think we know this is going to be another close encounter. However, biased or not, if Saints turn up with that ruthless defensive line speed, and clinical attacking flair, I think we have too much for the home side. I’m going for a Saints victory by eight points or more (2/1 with title sponsors Betfred).

In the rest of the Betfred Super League, the top four places look pretty much confirmed with the out of sorts Catalans Dragons joining the Saints, Warriors and Giants. The remaining two places look like a straight shoot-out between three teams. Two in great form, Leeds Rhinos and Salford Red Devils, and finally Lee Radford’s Castleford Tigers.

Rhinos, who have won seven of their last eight games, have certainly looked a different side under new coach Rohan Smith and will be hoping to secure fifth place, but face a tough challenge against Giants in front of the Sky cameras on Thursday.

The equally impressive Brody Croft-led Salford go into the final three rounds looking to secure a top-six finish ahead of the Tigers, whom the play in the penultimate fixture next weekend. This week they play Hull FC, a side I’m sure ready to see the back of 2022. I’m tipping Paul Rowley’s men to add a bit more pain before they do.

My tip for the top 6 finish is as follows:

1. Saints

2. Wigan

3. Huddersfield

4. Catalans

5. Leeds

6. Salford

With my Saints hat on…as I’ve always said, we shouldn’t fear anyone. If we turn up with that single-minded, confident and controlled approach, success is in their own hands.