Saturday 31st July 10

St Helens forward Jon Wilkin rarely has to hide in his Warrington neighbourhood - and hopes little changes tonight.

The England forward has not tasted defeat against the Wolves in eight years as a Saints player.

Warrington have an infamously poor record against their rivals from Merseyside, having not beaten them since 2001.

The Wolves are confident of finally breaking that jinx as they go into the clash at the Halliwell Jones Stadium with a two-point advantage in Engage Super League.

But, for the sake of any easy life, Wilkin wants to see the stranglehold maintained.

“I live in Warrington so I get loads of stick,” the 26-year-old said. “Luckily for me I’ve been able to dish it out over the last few years.

“Every time, the fans I bump into say, ‘It’s going to be the time this year’ or ‘We’re going to get you this time round’ and it’s quite funny that they haven’t really.

“It’s just been quite amusing for me to have the better of my neighbours for a while. If they beat us then I’ll just hide in my shed for a week!”

Wilkin claims there is no secret to Saints’ extraordinary run against the Wolves.

Warrington, as Carnegie Challenge Cup holders, are starting to establish themselves as a genuine Super League force but Wilkin feels Saints’ near constant success over the past decade still gives them an edge.

He said: “It’s not as if we prepare any differently to play Warrington. It’s just the fact that we do probably revel in big-game atmospheres and with the crowd that the Warrington-Saints fixtures fetch now, it is a big-game atmosphere.

“We’ve got a lot of experience in big games and if anything that could be the reason we’ve been successful against them.”

Warrington coach Tony Smith, who has overseen considerable improvement at the club in his year at the helm, is the latest man changed with breaking the hoodoo.

The Australian does not want to make bold predications but is confident it is only a matter of time before it ends.

“If it doesn’t happen this weekend, it will happen,” he said. “That is what I keep saying about these games.

“They beat us narrowly this year. I didn’t think there was much between the teams but they probably deserved it on the day.

“People ask why have they got that history against us, but they are a good team; they play well.

“If you don’t play well against Saints you have no chance, and even if you do play well, it doesn’t mean you are going to beat them.”

Talismanic hooker Keiron Cunningham is expected to return for Saints after five games out while strike centre Matt King should be back for the Wolves.