Friday 14 April 2017 12:01, UK
The post-Keiron Cunningham era begins for St Helens on Good Friday when they face arch-rivals Wigan, live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 12pm.
Saints parted ways with Cunningham on Monday after three wins from eight Betfred Super League games. Sean Long, Jamahl Lolesi and U19s coach Derek Traynor form the interim coaching team for the trip to the DW Stadium.
Wigan are also struggling for form. The Warriors started their Super League defence in style by winning their opening four league fixtures but are currently on a three-game losing streak, including a 27-10 home loss to leaders Castleford in their last outing.
Will it be Wigan or St Helens who rediscover that winning feeling? Here are three key battles…
Anthony Gelling v Mark Percival
Shaun Wane is hoping to welcome Gelling back to action on Friday. The centre missed the Castleford and Leeds games, with Willie Isa having to cover in the defeat to the Tigers, but is back in the 19-man squad.
Gelling is the sort of player that can decide a close derby game. Capable of breaking the line with ease, he has already scored four tries this season, while providing one try assist as well.
A strong runner, Gelling has carried for 777 metres at an average gain of 7.93m a run, offloading on nine occasions as well, the fourth best in Wigan's side.
His ability to release the ball out of the tackle is a key weapon in attack for the Warriors. Gelling threw 47 offloads last season, the third best in the Wigan team on the way to that Grand Final win.
St Helens will have to shut him down to take the two points.
Percival has been one of St Helens' shining lights this season. He did face a disciplinary charge for disputing the decision of the referee against Huddersfield but the centre will play against the Warriors.
Percival is only behind Adam Swift in the try-scoring stakes this season, crossing four times, but he's also assisted four times too, only behind James Roby on five.
Percival has carried strongly for Saints, making 894 metres at an average gain of 8.43m a run. That includes 15 clean breaks, 10 more than any other team-mate, and 35 tackle busts, 14 more than any other team-mate. He also ranks in the top five of the competition for both of those statistics.
His goal-kicking needs work, 17 from 29 attempts, but in a World Cup year, expect Percival to maintain his good form.
Thomas Leuluai v Matty Smith
Leuluai briefly shared the Wigan dressing room with Smith and when he returned to the NRL, Smith replaced him in the No 7 jersey. Now the tables have turned with the New Zealand international into his second stint with the Warriors, replacing Smith.
Leuluai has formed a partnership with George Williams which most teams would kill to have and the form of Williams undoubtedly has been helped by having the experienced Kiwi alongside him.
Wane will be looking for more than a return of one try and two try assists from his veteran scrum-half, but Leuluai brings more to the table than just that. He bosses the side around the park with his vision and kicking game and likes a tackle too - just ask Maurie Fa'asavalu!
In big games, Wigan need their big players to step up so expect Leuluai to put in a top performance on Friday.
What sort of a reception will Smith get from the Wigan faithful? He bowed out with a Grand Final winners ring, but rejoining St Helens was never going to be a popular decision with his former club.
Smith has made three appearances for Saints after a rapid recovery from a broken leg in pre-season, including a stunning debut against Warrington when he proved just why St Helens brought him back in by guiding the side to a big win.
Like Wigan, the St Helens half-back pairing of Smith and Frenchman Theo Fages has the potential to dazzle, with both players complimenting each other through the organisation, the kicking skills of Smith and the flair of Fages.
Will Smith handle the pressure on Friday afternoon and deliver a big performance against his former side?
Liam Farrell v Zeb Taia
It was a welcome return for Farrell in the pack against Castleford and the second rower has a proud record he needs to defend this week.
Farrell has never lost a Good Friday game against Saints since breaking into the first team in 2010.
The 26-year-old scored the match-winner back in 2011, he could be a game-breaker again on Friday. The wide-running forward is already turning in good figures for the Warriors in 2017, notching up 758 metres from 88 carries at an average gain of 8.61m a drive.
Farrell has crossed for one try so far and provided one try assist too while also putting in 142 tackles, and astonishingly missing just three.
Expect Farrell to up his game against the Saints, it is the sort of game he relishes.
One man experiencing the Lancashire derby for the first time is Taia. He returned to Super League from the Gold Coast Titans in a swap deal for Joe Greenwood and immediately added a different dimension to the Saints pack.
Taia has already provided four try assists, the second best in St Helens colours, while also throwing 14 offloads, level at the top of the Saints rankings with Alex Walmsley. He has formed a strong partnership with Mark Percival down that left edge and has played a big role in the centre's excellent form so far.
Will that be a combination capable of winning the game for St Helens?
Wigan Warriors: Joe Bretherton, Joe Burgess, Tom Davies, Morgan Escaré, Liam Farrell, Ben Flower, Liam Forsyth, Anthony Gelling, Willie Isa, Thomas Leuluai, Liam Marshall, Michael McIlorum, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Sean O'Loughlin, Sam Powell, Ryan Sutton, Taulima Tautai, Joel Tomkins, George Williams.
St Helens: Kyle Amor, Theo Fages, Luke Douglas, Regan Grace, Morgan Knowles, Tommy Lee, Jonny Lomax, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Tommy Makinson, Ryan Morgan, Mark Percival, Greg Richards, Matty Smith, Adam Swift, Zeb Taia, Luke Thompson, Adam Walker, Alex Walmsley, Jon Wilkin.
