The two teams are making their way out of the tunnel, mascots in tow.

Thursday night fixtures don't always throw up the biggest of crowds but this one is very well attended.

Joel and Sam Tomkins among the support, no Warrington shirts on their backs these days...

Just minutes separate us from a corking top-end of the table tussle between Warrington and Wigan.

Pitch looks decent, skies seem clear. I think we've got a game on our hands...

Iestyn Harris
Former Great Britain international on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"It's going to be close. On paper, with Warrington at home, they're just favourites. Wigan have still got six or seven out injured so you'd feel Warrington just have the edge, but you never can guess these games."

Select live commentary from Radio 5 live sports extra, Radio Merseyside or Radio Manchester by clicking on the Live Coverage tab at the top of the page.

It's not even a month since Warrington went to Wigan and came away with two points to retain their place at the top of Super League.

The Wires triumphed through tries from Ben Currie, Tom Lineham, Kevin Penny, Stefan Ratchford and Ryan Atkins, while not even a hat-trick from Dom Manfredi could secure Wigan any share of the spoils.

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Image source, BBC Sport

Dave Woods and Iestyn Harris are in position at the Halliwell Jones Stadium for live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra.

They've been joined by Warrington back-rower James Laithwaite, who is currently recovering from injury and does not feature on the field tonight.

Listen online by clicking on the play button at the top of the page.

Wigan Warriors have turned to Nick Gregson to provide support to Matty Smith in the halves while George Williams was out injured, and the 20-year-old has stepped up.

That combination will be key, with Stefan Ratchford and the experienced Kurt Gidley in the opposition playmaker berths.

Williams is on the bench for Wigan this evening, so expect to see him at some stage.

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Warrington: Russell; Penny, R. Evans, Atkins, Lineham; Gidley, Ratchford; Hill, Clark, Sims, Hughes, Currie, Westerman.

Replacements: G. King, Cox, Jullien, Westwood.

Wigan: Sarginson; Charnley, Gelling, Gildart, Tierney; Gregson, Smith; Clubb, Powell, Mossop, Bateman, Isa, Sutton.

Replacements: Williams, Tautai, Burke, Wells.

Referee: Phil Bentham.

Iestyn Harris
Former Great Britain international on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"It just shows how difficult the coaching job is. You don't see coaches going for 10-15 years, it's very short stints, particularly nowadays when the game is so fast-flowing.

"Coaches get turned over very quickly so to get to 150 games is a great achievement for Shaun."

Wigan have their own centurion, with Dan Sarginson accumulating 100 Super League appearances.

The Gold Coast-bound centre, who began his top-flight career with London Broncos where he made 56 appearances, has since added 43 in the cherry and white to his tally.

He would have reached that landmark far sooner, had a hamstring injury not prematurely ended his 2015 campaign...

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Amazing to think Ben Currie only made his Super League debut in 2012, but tonight racks up a century of appearances.

The 21-year-old has been a regular for Tony Smith's side and was included in the England squad for the 2015 New Zealand Test series.

He has continued to be a significant fixture for the Wolves, scoring 10 tries from the back-row.

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Games between these two north-west foes have taken on greater significance since the Wolves emerged as genuine trophy contenders over the past decade.

They met in the 2013 Grand Final where the Warriors edged out the Wolves, and at least one of the two have been involved in the showpiece since 2012.

While the Warrington wait for a premiership continues, they have enjoyed success in the Challenge Cup, winning three times in four years between 2009 and 2012.

The other winners in that sequence? Wigan.

Three teams lie on 18 points at the top of the Super League table after 12 games, and two of them do battle tonight.

Warrington Wolves, top of the table on points difference, host third-placed Wigan Warriors.

Tony Smith's Wire are seeking a league double against a Wigan side that shut them out completely on their last visit in last season's Super 8s.

The reward for a winner? An outright lead at the top, with second-placed Catalans Dragons playing Hull FC in fourth tomorrow.

What a treat lies in store.

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