Powell hunting his first derby day win

While Wigan have won their last six Good Friday meetings, Powell’s record does not make as comfortable reading.

He has faced St Helens four times in his career and, on each occasion, lost them all.

Now 23, he is hoping to break that duck tomorrow when the Warriors head to Langtree Park for a hotly-anticipated encounter.

He said: “I’ve never been in winning one yet, so hopefully this is my chance.

“I grew up watching them, I know how important they are and so to play in them is a great feeling.

“You want to put the best of you across. It’s a different atmosphere. The week leading up to it, people are talking about it... you don’t want to be losing this one.”

Powell, an academy-product, said the Good Friday derby was of the highlights of his time as a junior fan.

“I remember the school finishing early and the game being around the corner, and basically organising the week around it,” he added.

He twice endured derby defeat last season, featured in the 2014 Grand Final as a late replacement for injured Micky McIlorum and lost another encounter with Saints earlier that year.

Powell has been given a bigger role to play in Shaun Wane’s side since McIlorum suffered a season-ending ankle injury against Brisbane last month. He is enjoying the extra involvement and responsibility.

“To go from playing 20 minutes off the bench earlier in the year, now I’m getting into the swing of things,” he said.

“When there’s a break in play making the most of it, compose yourself and away you go.”