Wigan and Hull KR prepare for game of the season

Two titans of the Super League season meet on Friday in a match that could pave the way to the victor wrapping up the League Leaders' Shield.

Second-placed Wigan Warriors, who have already sealed a stunning win in the World Club Challenge and lifted the Challenge Cup this term, welcome leaders Hull KR to the Brick Community Stadium for a huge game.

From not deeming Hull KR to be a "surprise package" to Friday's visitors not caring where the fixture is played, plenty has been said in the run-up to their face-off, just three games from the end of the regular season.

BBC Sport looks at how both sides are preparing for the biggest game of the 2024 Super League campaign.

Regardless of the result or, indeed, the way the rest of the season pans out, it has been a superb campaign for Wigan Warriors.

With Matt Peet at the helm, the Cherry and Whites have enjoyed a stunning spell of success after he took over as head coach before the 2022 season.

Peet has won just about everything you can as a coach, firstly the Challenge Cup just a matter of months into his debut season, and ending St Helens' spell of dominance to take victory in last season's Super League Grand Final.

And that is before we get to their history-making World Club Challenge defeat of Penrith Panthers and victory against Sam Burgess' Warrington Wolves at Wembley in this season's Challenge Cup final.

"They've put the time in on and off the field to earn the success they're enjoying," Peet told BBC Radio Manchester of opponents Hull KR.

"Everyone can see they're going to be competing not just this season but for a long time to come."

Hull KR boss Willie Peters has similarly transformed his side's fortunes, albeit at a club outside the few that have dominated the Super League era, and Peet thinks their ascension is benefitting the league.

"I think it's good for the game, the more teams you can add to the competition. For me it's not a new phase, because we've played Hull KR in a few semi-finals and they were in a Challenge Cup final not too long ago," Peet added.

"They're further down the line than being a new face - and it's been quite consistent since Willie took over."

More than 2,000 Hull KR supporters will make the trip across the M62 to see their side take on last season's League Leaders' Shield winners.

Victory on Friday will mean Hull KR will move within touching distance of lifting the shield for the first time in the Super League era.

The Robins convincingly beat Wigan 26-10 at Craven Park this season, but Peters does not believe his side will be at a disadvantage in the return fixture.

"They're not going to give you anything at Craven Park or going to their place," he told BBC Sport.

"It doesn't matter where you play teams. As long as you believe in how you want to play and train consistently throughout the week.

"Just because we're playing at Wigan it doesn't make it any harder. If they came here the game would still be difficult, there's no doubt about that."

Hull KR's position at the top of the table has not been handed to them - Peters has masterminded a colossal campaign, which sees them make the trip to Wigan on the back of eight consecutive victories.

"We're going to be playing against a very good team who have the same beliefs and approach to their game as we do," he added.

"You need to earn the right to play in these games as they don't come that often. They are tight games and when you get opportunities you need to take advantage of it.

"We've put ourselves in a strong position by working hard. The players know that, and they'll continue to do that."

Wigan welcomed back the talismanic Bevan French after eight games out for their victory in Perpignan against Catalans Dragons coming into their tussle with Hull KR.

French does not believe that labelling their opponents as a surprise is accurate, given their natural progression on the way to challenging at the top.

"I don't see them as a surprise package at all. They've been building nicely over the past couple of years and they just seem to keep getting better and better," French told BBC Radio Manchester.

"It's a great test for us. This is what you want to do - you want to be playing against the best of the best, so there's no surprise at all on our end."

What is the key to Hull KR's commanding position? Winger Ryan Hall suggests their consistency and mindset has paid dividends.

"We said in pre-season as a leadership group that it would be really good this year if every Monday you wouldn't be able to guess how we played at the weekend," Hall told BBC Sport.

"We said if we come out after a defeat the same as we do a win, and try and train like that, we'd get some consistency which we've tried to do all year.

"We said we are going to lose games this year but we've tried not to dwell on them too much. Of course we learn from them and analyse what we need to, but we move on and look to the next game."