Wane: You couldn't give this any more spice

Both teams are in form and have lost just one of their opening matches - Saints are two points clear, having played an extra game.

But asked whether that added any more spice to this afternoon’s Good Friday encounter, Wane said: “No.

“You can’t add any more spice to a Wigan-Saints derby – it doesn’t matter where you are in the table.

“It doesn’t get any bigger than this.”

Wigan have won the last eight Good Friday derbies stretching back to 2010, including six under Wane’s helm as head coach.

He puts that incredible run down to their greater desire and has compared their build-up to this match as being like a final.

“In all those (eight) games, we’ve wanted it more,” he said.

“But that won’t have any bearing on this. They will be motivated, we will be.

“We need to make sure our want is more than theirs.

“Our preparation has been like we’re at Wembley, all the players are on the ball.

“We’re desperate, they’re desperate. The best team will win and I hope it’s us.”

St Helens caught everyone’s attention with their opening day 46-6 smashing of Grand Finalists Castleford.

Wane has been happy for Justin Holbrook’s outfit to steal the attention.

“They’ve gone really well, and how they’ve attacked,” he said.

“They seem to be very confident and everybody is backing them to win everything, and Barba is killing it, and we’re happy for that to happen.

“We’ll turn up and hopefully we can trouble them.

“They’re defending well, but we need to make sure they’re challenged, and they’ll be saying the same.”

Today’s televised derby, kick-of 3.15pm, will be watched by a capacity crowd at the Totally Wicked Stadium including around 4,000 Wigan fans.

Meanwhile, fringe halfback Jake Shorrocks yesterday joined Salford on a month’s loan.