Super League play-offs – St Helens v Warrington
Celebrity fans aren’t usually associated with Rugby League, but global superstar Gary Barlow bucked that trend earlier in the week, partying into the night with Warrington players as they celebrated their Challenge Cup victory over Leeds Rhinos.
The Wolves face St Helens in the opening play-off game of Super League 2010 at the GPW Recruitment Stadium on Friday in what is being predicted as one of the closest matches in recent play-off history, and having a little patience - rumours are circulating that Barlow will instigate the team talk - could prove the difference between the sides.
St Helens' ambitions of ending their run of three straight losses in the Grand Final have been dealt a blow with the news that key stand-off Leon Pryce will miss the play-offs because of a neck injury. The England international will be sidelined for a further three months as he goes under the surgeon’s knife to fix the troublesome neck problem.
Kyle Eastmond is also missing for the home side with a hip problem, but prop Maurie Fa'asavalu returns from five months out with a damaged shoulder and second-row Sia Soliola suffered no reaction to his troublesome knee injury last weekend which means he takes his place in the squad.
Saints coach Mick Potter believes his side already have the edge over their rivals by pippin them to second place in the league, which has guaranteed home advantage. “It's a good thing to have the crowd right behind you, it's definitely an advantage,” Potter told the BBC.
"You don't want to be that losing team in the first week of the semis because it does make it hard. You've got to win every week. You want to leapfrog to that game within a Grand Final if you can.
"That's not to say it can't be done the other way but it just makes it more difficult. You never know what sort of injuries you're likely to suffer."
The Wolves look set to welcome back Adrian Morley, Lance Todd Trophy winner Lee Briers, centre Matt King and second-row duo Louis Anderson and Ben Westwood, all who were rested for last weekend’s match against Harlequins. Warrington fans will be delighted that their star men are back for good.
Past results between the sides put St Helens in the driving seat; they won 28-18 at Knowsley Road in March before winning 26-24 at the Halliwell Jones in July. But Warrington skipper Morley is relishing the challenge of facing the Saints, especially after the way they dismantled Leeds in the Challenge Cup final.
"We were a bit scratchy last week which is understandable considering the week previous but we are in a reasonable position now to mount a serious challenge for Old Trafford,” Morley told the club’s official website.
“The Wembley win gave us a lot of confidence. We're in a really good bill of health so there's no reason why we can't do something magical."
Could it be magic for both Morley and Barlow? All will be revealed on Friday where one set of supporters will be given a night they surely will never forget.
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