KEIRON Cunningham says his charges are confident heading into Friday’s derby with Wigan.
Saints face the Warriors for the second time in anger this season – and the club’s head coach believes these games are easy to get up for.
“My job is probably a bit easier this week,” he said. “The players probably only need a little bit of guidance and encouragement during the week and in the game but they will be motivated.
“These games look after themselves and we are excited about playing Wigan.
“They have been playing well and I didn’t read anything into their loss in France. It is a difficult place to play and then when you add the travel and heat then sometimes things don’t work out right and the result gets away from you.
“But I knew they would come out and beat Leeds and then they were great against Huddersfield. They are in a rich vein of form and I’d like to think we are too.
“Wigan have that stability because they are injury free but we are more than confident going into the game.”
Saints lost Tommy Makinson for a prolonged period of time after he broke his leg in the Salford match whilst a decision on James Roby will be taken after he sees a specialist on a dislocated finger.
Josh Jones and Luke Thompson both suffered knocks in the game – but they should be ok to return.
He continued: “It was job done at Salford and we had to come through a lot of adversity to get the points. We have been through that a lot over the last few years.
“Tommy’s injury isn’t season ending; it is a clean break, not a big one with some ligament damage and we’re confident he will be back well before the end of the season.
“He has been the form winger in the comp and if he would have carried on he would have got an England call up. I don’t think it will be too late when he comes back to regain that faith from Steve McNamara and get that shirt on.
“Matty Dawson will slot in there and we have full confidence in him.”
Tickets for Friday’s game remain on sale from the Ticket Office at Langtree Park, by calling 01744 455 052 or online here.
