Wood: Derby clash on our minds

Warrington's long-serving forward Paul Wood admits the Wolves players have one eye on their table-topping showdown with Wigan as they prepare for Saturday's clash with Catalan Dragons in Perpignan.

The Wolves are breathing down the necks of the Warriors and their meeting in the penultimate round of the regular Super League campaign at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Sunday, September 4, is being billed as a League Leaders' Shield decider.

"It's no secret that, if we win all our games, we finish top of the league," he said. "Everyone knows the Wigan is going to be massive. We jump ahead of them if we beat them. We're not thinking about it too much but it's logged there at the back of the head that it would be a massive stride to getting to Old Trafford and winning the League Leaders' Shield."

Castleford coach Terry Matterson is calling on his players to "stop feeling sorry for themselves" ahead of the crucial derby at Wakefield.

The Tigers are in danger of losing their play-off spot after conceding 102 points in their last two league matches and are still coming to terms with their heart-breaking extra-time defeat by Leeds in the Challenge Cup semi-final.

"We strung together three wins so we had some momentum and we got knocked about," he said. "We have to get over that. We have given ourselves a good opportunity to play some semi-final football and it would be a shame to see it go out of the window because of the Challenge Cup defeat."

In Saturday's other game, Leeds meet Harlequins in their last match before the Challenge Cup final Wembley and coach Brian McDermott has taken the precaution of resting forwards Jamie Peacock, Jamie Jones-Buchanan and Ryan Bailey.

The sixth-placed Rhinos still have their sights on snatching fourth spot, as they did 12 months ago, while Harlequins must be willing the season to end after losing their last six matches.

The Londoners began the post-McDermott period in sensational fashion by winning their opening three matches, including a 36-26 triumph at Headingley, to top the table but they have won just twice since then and the Leeds boss has sympathy for his old club.

"They have had a tough season with injuries and a limited resource," he said. "It was always going to be a tough season for Quins with the squad they have. I'm feeling for them at the moment but I am certain they will show up this weekend and try and do the double over Leeds."