Wigan Warriors arrive in ruder health at Headingley Carnegie this evening than for the corresponding engage Super League Grand Final eliminator against Leeds Rhinos 12 months ago, when they succumbed 36-6. “Last year we were broken and a bit Sellotaped together, but I've pretty much got everyone fit and raring to go this time,” Brian Noble, the Wigan coach, said.

Indeed, Wigan have been full of talk this week about their energy levels, while Leeds have been understandably more guarded, given the scale of the 38-10 qualifying semi-final defeat last Friday by St Helens, who await the winners at Old Trafford on October 4.

Whoever wins will go into the Grand Final as underdogs against a peerless St Helens side, who last lost in April. No team have gone all the way through the play-offs from fourth place after the regular season, but Wigan's momentum is such that they have the self-belief to qualify for their fifth final.

Nine tries in winning away to Catalans Dragons in the elimination semi-final could prove the high point of Wigan's season. Their last defeat was a 52-16 hiding at home last month against Leeds, whose determination to atone for an inexplicably flat performance at Knowsley Road cannot be underestimated.

If the Rhinos can subdue Trent Barrett, the former Australia stand-off, who is relishing his Wigan swansong, the belief at Leeds is that they can progress to a fifth final of their own. “It's that old American football coach's saying by Vince Lombardi, 'It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up,'” Jamie Peacock, the Leeds forward, said. “We're intent on getting straight back up.”

Kevin Walters, the new Catalans coach, has returned to his former club in agreeing a one-year deal for Shane Perry, 31, to join Casey McGuire and Dane Carlaw, his former Brisbane Broncos team-mates, in Perpignan next season. Bradford Bulls have signed Michael Worrincy, the Harlequins forward, on a two-year contract and released Simon Finnigan to join Huddersfield Giants.

Castleford Tigers confirmed their ninth signing for the 2009 season yesterday as Kirk Netherton, the Hull Kingston Rovers hooker, and Warrington Wolves released Rob Parker and Andy Bracek, who are expected respectively to join Salford City Reds and Celtic Crusaders, next year's Super League newcomers.