Wigan Warriors v Leeds Rhinos: Giants the ‘prize’ for Leeds if they lose to Wigan

One of the inevitable by-products of the current system is that clubs can enter into this final round of regular fixtures able to pre-empt who they might face in the first stages of the play-offs.

In this instance, the defending Super League champions know a win at Wigan this evening will displace their hosts from third spot and set up a tie at Warrington Wolves a week Saturday.

If they fail, Brian McDermott’s side will stay fourth and, instead, head to minor premiers Huddersfield Giants next Thursday.

The story doing the rounds across the Pennines, however, is Wigan themselves fancy that appointment much rather than tackling second-placed Warrington and so will not mind too much if they fall against Leeds.

It is hard, though, to imagine any side coached by the gruff and famously competitive Shaun Wane adopting any such attitude.

Likewise, McDermott is hardly someone known for taking a backward step.

“I’ve got no real preference,” he told the Yorkshire Post. “In the Challenge Cup maybe there are some preferred draws out there, usually a team a division below or at the bottom end of the table.

“But you don’t get that in the play-offs. Every team is there by merit and certainly so in the top four. You have to be good.

“If you’re going to get to Old Trafford first and foremost you’re going to beat some good teams and obviously you have to do that to then win the Grand Final.”

Could he understand, though, how the mutterings about Wigan came about and how they might prefer tackling Huddersfield?

“If you think about it that much I suppose there may be a little route through of why you want to play one team more than another,” added McDermott, his own side having lost all three games with the Giants this season yet he is privately keen to readdress that at some point in the weeks ahead.

“But Huddersfield are a very good team. They’ve just won the League Leaders’ Shield, have been very consistent and are a strong side as is Warrington, as is Wigan, as is St Helens, as is Catalan...

“I think the danger is looking and seeing who you prefer and what style you’d play against this or that team.

“Just take care of your own backyard at this stage of the year; take care of what you can control.”

For all Wigan prospered at Wembley recently, their league form has been abject as they approach tonight’s game in danger of suffering four successive defeats with just two wins in their last eight outings.

Furthermore, it was revealed yesterday that their talismanic captain Sean O’Loughlin is out for the next month at least with a torn Achilles tendon which could yet jeopardise the England loose forward’s World Cup place.

Eleven of Wane’s Wembley winners were left out in the 
34-33 home loss to beaten finalists Hull FC last Friday but the majority, including Sam Tomkins, Josh Charnley, Matty Smith and Blake Green, are back tonight.

When asked how he assesses their erratic hosts, McDermott replied: “I think the simple answer to that is we don’t assess them.

“We’re not going to try read into Wigan or what they do in terms of where they are emotionally or mentally.

“They are a good team, absolutely and the Challenge Cup and Super League are two different competitions. But you can’t write off the fact they’ve just beaten Hull in a big game. They’ve got something there. Their recent form has not been where it should be, but there’s a danger of reading too much into that.

“We’ll do what we have to do. We know going to Wigan is always a big game. It’s usually a fast one over there, it’s on telly and I should imagine it’ll be a cracker.”

McDermott has seen the loss of Ryan Bailey through suspension offset by the return of first-choice back-rows Brett Delaney and Jamie Jones-Buchanan after lengthy lay-offs. Hooker Rob Burrow should also return after pulling out of Friday’s 20-12 win over Catalan with a back problem shortly before kick-off.

“That match was a good, tough game but we can’t afford to turn that much possession over and play so loose with so many unforced errors,” added McDermott.

“We can’t get away with that and our kicking early in the game wasn’t where it should be either.

“But they are easier fixed up than trying to get intensity or defensive steel in the team. We have them and it bodes well for the play-offs.”

Frustratingly, Bailey incurred a one-game ban after being sin-binned for punching against Catalan – his first match after eight weeks out with a broken thumb.

“It’s a reality,” said McDermott. “You can’t go throwing punches. That’s the bottom line.

“There has been quite a few punching incidents where people have got off without a game ban and we also had the Sky cameras in there (disciplinary) yesterday.

“It sounds like I’m whingeing. I’m not. The responsibility lies with Ryan Bailey. But it is at times frustrating that as soon as he gets called up there he’s banned.”

Meanwhile, Wane insisted: “I don’t mind where we finish or who we play. I’m being genuine.

“Huddersfield or Warrington, they’re both going to be tough games. Both teams are in good form and playing well, so it doesn’t make any difference to us.”