Friday 21 July 2017 20:32, UK
It's Lancashire versus Yorkshire on Friday, as Wigan take on Leeds in one of Super League's classic encounters.
There might be little riding on this one with both teams preparing for the Super 8s, but don't expect anything but fire and brimstone at the DW Stadium. Here's three head to heads which could decide the game:
You have to wonder where this Wigan side would be without George Williams. Already eighth in the Super League table, the few bright spots in a difficult, injury-hit regular season have tended to come from the hands or boot of the stand off.
He's rejected the overtures of the NRL and is now one the competition's star players. Williams has 25 try assists to his name, 17 more than Wigan's second best: half back partner Thomas Leuluai. And that's enough to put him five clear of the rest of the Super League field, ahead of Catalans' Luke Walsh.
The 22-year-old has seven tries of his own too and you feel that if Wigan are to push for a top four spot in the Super 8s, Williams is the man to lead the charge.
It's been an interesting 2017 for Joel Moon. He has made a seamless positional switch and produced some outstanding performances in the half back slots.
Previously a strike centre, Brian McDermott decided to shift Moon into the halves in Round 5. He's only played twice more in the centres this season in the league and it's brought Moon a big try return. Indeed he leads the way for the Rhinos, crossing 15 times and he should go past his best ever total of 17 set in 2013.
Moon seems to relish attacking the line from the half back position: he has made 12 clean breaks, the joint-best of any Leeds player, and also 50 tackle busts. And Moon has also come up with seven try assists too.
With both Danny McGuire and Rob Burrow on the way out at Headingley, it could be a permanent move into the halves for Moon in 2018.
One bright point of Wigan's season has been the return of Michael McIlorum after spending more than a season on the sidelines with that broken leg and dislocated ankle.
Sam Powell deputised terrifically, but after McIlorum's return, he has had to make do with a bench spot in his last six appearances. A combative player, McIlorum is a fierce competitor and has made 263 tackles from his 12 appearances, while darting 31 times from dummy half.
McIlorum isn't a hooker in the Daryl Clark or James Roby mould, making big metres with the ball from the dummy half position, but he suits the way Shaun Wane likes his side to play. What can he produce before the end of the season?
Leeds have hit the jackpot with Matt Parcell. Their limited success with number nines coming from the NRL led to a few raised eyebrows before he started his Rhinos career, but what a debut season he's enjoyed.
He's played every single round while marshalling a Leeds pack around the pitch to great effect, but also produced some outstanding personal accolades too.
He's crossed for 12 tries in 2017, the second best in the Leeds team behind Joel Moon. Plus, he's come up with 11 try assists. And not content with thrilling the Rhinos fans with his attacking prowess, Parcell has shown quality in defence too.
His 815 tackles is streets ahead of any other teammate and he currently leads the way in the whole of Super League too. If Parcell can sustain his performances in the Super 8s, Leeds look a good bet to secure a top four finish.
We've seen a recent celebration of Sean O'Loughlin's career. And what a career it's been.
He hit the 400 appearance mark for the Warriors last week against Warrington, and whilst it wasn't the result he was looking for, the skipper received plenty of plaudits in the build up, following three Super League titles, two Challenge Cups and a World Club Challenge winner's medal while at the club.
He misses a few games these days at the age of 34, but he has still managed 16 of Wigan's 22 Super League games this season. Not bad, considering he only managed 15 in the whole of 2016.
Mr Wigan is also Mr Dependable though. He tackles, he carries and he leads. And Shaun Wane will need his captain to pull the troops through what will be a tough Super 8 campaign.
With Leeds missing several players, expect another experienced Super League campaigner to line up opposite O'Loughlin. And Jamie Jones-Buchanan is even older than his Wigan counterpart.
From next season, he will be in a band of one with the backrow likely to be Leeds' only remaining member of the 2004 Grand Final winning team, with both Danny McGuire and Rob Burrow confirming 2017 will be their last in Blue and Amber.
But JJB has proved his worth again this season. He's missed just four league games. And he's the third top tackler with 670 and sixth top carrier with 227, making 1408 metres from those drives.
He's conceded too many penalties, the most in the Leeds side with 19, but there is no doubting Leeds could use his experience, both next year and also for the rest of the season.
