Preview: Wigan v Bradford (R26)

Brian Noble tipped his former club Bradford Bulls to retain their engage Super League Grand Final crown, even though he expects them to suffer their ninth defeat of the season at Wigan Warriors.

Noble will come face to face with his old team for the first time since his shock move over the Pennines when the Warriors take on the reigning champions at the JJB Stadium.

Relegation-threatened Wigan, who have won eight of their last nine matches, can finally reach safety if results go their way this weekend while the Bulls are likely to finish fourth irrespective of the outcome of their last three fixtures.

Under Noble, Bradford became the first team to win the title from third place last October and their old boss believes that can go one step further this time and reach a sixth successive Grand Final.

"I am completely convinced that they can," he said. "I think in a lot of respects, they?ve got the best playing staff to do that.

"I?ve said it right the way through, I?m absolutely confident they?ve got the personnel within their group to win the Grand Final again."

After spending three decades at Bradford as player and coach, Noble admits the game will be special but he is confident he can keep his emotions in check.

"I?ve got lots and lots of friends at Bradford and part of me will have 34 people playing out there," he said.

"But I?m concentrating on the 17 in cherry and white.

"I?m professional enough to know that we need another couple of wins and that?s been the focus since I came here.

"I?m extremely proud of what I achieved in 31 years at Bradford but I?ve moved on. A lot of my heart is in that club but the rest of my heart is now here and I?m thoroughly determined to make this club as successful as it?s been in the past.

"There will be no emotion for me until after the game when I get to shake hands with a few good people.

"I?ve avoided a lot of people that have wanted to speak to me this week, I?ve kept a low profile. I want to win."

The game will also hold special significance for former Wigan hooker Terry Newton, who returns to the Bradford side after injury, and for his Great Britain team-mate Stuart Fielden, who will face his former Bulls team-mates for the first time since his record ?450,000 move to the JJB Stadium.

"Stuart is very fired up but I am sure he will be focused," said Noble. "He?s raised the standard throughout this club."

Bradford coach Steve McNamara, who succeeded Noble in the Odsal hot seat in April, is playing down the clash of the old boys.

"Once you are out on the field it doesn?t matter who you are playing," he said.

"There is a lot more at stake in this game than between the personalities. One more win should see them out of the relegation area but one more defeat and they are right back in the mix again.

"We have some really important issues of our own. People think we are sat in fourth and can?t go one way or the other but we need to perform well and start building momentum."

Wigan Warriors v Bradford Bulls, Friday, September 1, kick-off 20:00

Wigan Warriors 18-man squad: Ashton, Calderwood, Dobson, Fielden, Fletcher, Godwin, Hansen, Higham, Hock, Logan, McAvoy, O?Carroll, O?Loughlin, Orr, Paleaaesina, Richards, Tickle, Vaealiki.

Bradford Bulls 18-man squad: Hape, Deacon, Vagana, Newton, I. Harris, McKenna, Cook, Lynch, Meyers, B. Harris, Withers, Ferres, Vainikolo, Henderson, Langley, Pryce, Burgess, Bai.

Referee: A Klein

Source: superleague.co.uk