St Helens will be hoping their key matchwinners will be on form tonight, and in Danny Richardson they've got one who knows all about turning up when it counts.

Image source, SWPIX.COM

On paper the two 'spines' - 1, 6, 7, 9 - are pretty strong for both sides, but could the decision to leave James Roby on the bench for Saints prove a big fillip for Warrington?

Roby's work out of dummy-half has been a key factor in the Saints forward push with a league-high 226 runs from dummy half and 2,160 metres. He's also been huge in defence, making 984 tackles.

However, without Theo Fages named in the side, the job has been handed to Morgan Knowles - who has played most of his first-grade footy in the back-row.

The two sides have their first-choice halves pairings, and their two respective full-backs in Ben Barba and Stefan Ratchford are in the top 10 for tries and assists.

One of the worst-kept secrets in Super League is finally out, as St Helens half-back Matty Smith swaps Billinge for 'Brutus and the Catalans Dragons.

The former Wigan man will team up with Sam Tomkins and Michael McIlorum at the Dracs.

He just hasn't been able to unseat Danny Richardson at scrum-half.

Before Thursday's Super League semi-final against St Helens, prop Chris Hill says his Warrington side will be "fighting to get that spot" in the final.

Hill and his teammates have already been to the Challenge Cup final where they were beaten by Catalans Dragons back in August.

They have been to three Grand Finals in the past decade, losing all three.

St Helens. 26 wins, 157 tries, 42,187 metres, 132 goals, seven Dream Team players, two Man of Steel nominees and one League Leaders' Shield.

It's fair to say though, it'll count for zip if they don't get the job done and win the Grand Final in 2018.

The pressure is on for a side that dominated the league campaign to deliver the goods at the knock-out stage.

"We've known for quite some time we'll finish first and have a home semi, so full credit to the guys in how they've gone about the last few weeks," head coach Justin Holbrook told BBC Sport.

"If there's no pressure on then it doesn't mean anything. I'm ok with that, there's been pressure on us all year and we've handled that. It's about playing well when it counts."

Image source, SWPIX.COM

Image source, SWPIX.COM

Warrington have restored half-backs Kevin Brown and Tyrone Roberts to the starting line-up after both missed their final Super 8s hit-out against Wakefield.

Winger Tom Lineham is also included after he escaped suspension to feature in Steve Price's squad.

Bodene Thompson gets a start, though there is no spot for the experienced Ryan Atkins, with Toby King preferred in the centres.

Warrington: Ratchford; Charnley, T. King, Goodwin, Lineham; Brown, Roberts; Hill, Clark, Cooper, Thompson, Hughes, Westwood.

Interchanges: G King, Murdoch-Masila, Patton, Philbin,

Image source, SWPIX.COM

Saints have left hooker and skipper James Roby on the bench for the start of this one, with Morgan Knowles pressed into service at dummy-half.

Justin Holbrook has brought stand-off Jonny Lomax, prop Luke Thompson and back-rower Jon Wilkin into the 19 for this knockout encounter.

The seven Dream Team selections are all involved in some way or another.

St Helens: Barba; Makinson, Morgan, Percival, Grace; Lomax, Richardson; Thompson, Knowles, Lees, Peyroux, Taia, Wilkin

Replacements: McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Roby, Douglas, Ashworth

Excited? Nervous? For coaches, fans, players alike, this point of the season is a tense time.

Let's have a look at the teams, the match-ups and the stats that matter before we get underway in little more than 20 minutes time.

What better way to mark National Poetry Day than an ode to the Super League play-offs, eh?

Tonight's game is the first of two matches to determine who goes through to the showpiece final on 13 October.

Welcome to BBC Sport's live text coverage of St Helens v Warrington.

Image source, SWPIX.COM

What about Wigan? Will it be a happy end for Shaun Wane?

Or can Castleford spoil the party and head to the big dance again?

There are no second chances, knockout football is about to begin.

Good luck to all four, may the best team win.

Will it be Justin Holbrook's St Helens, runaway leaders at the top?

Or can rivals Warrington deliver a semi-final shock?

Stefan Ratchford and Daryl Clark. Benny Barba and Jonny Lomax.

Cast-iron defences and free-scoring attacks.

Image source, SWPIX.COM

Image source, SWPIX.COM

All hail the play-offs, Super League's final four, all desperately trying to knock down the door.

That leads to Old Trafford, the Grand Final in sight. The usual fireworks on a damp October night.