Wigan v St Helens: Scott Taylor excited for first derby

Wigan prop Scott Taylor is expecting Friday's derby between the Warriors and St Helens to surpass anything he has experienced in Super League before.

The 22-year-old will be playing in the fixture for the first time.

He told BBC Radio Manchester: "They've told me it's the biggest game of the season and I can only imagine what the atmosphere's going to be like.

"I've played in a Hull FC-Rovers derby in front of 20,000. It's going to be like that, but bigger and better."

England international Taylor added: "It's the one the fans want the most. It's about bragging rights for teams. When it comes around, everyone's got a lot of adrenaline and everyone's ready to rip into it."

The rivalry between Wigan and St Helens is one of the fiercest in English rugby league, which was exemplified by the four fixtures between the two clubs in 2012.

Four players were sent off, including three as a result of a 26-man brawl in the Magic Weekend meeting in May.

Wigan comfortably won that game at the Etihad Stadium, as well as and also knocking Saints out of the Challenge Cup at the quarter-final stage.

St Helens, then under the stewardship of Mike Rush, won 26-18 at the DW Stadium in the final match of the regular season, although they were helped by the early dismissal of Warriors hooker Michael McIlorum.

Both sides are currently lying within a point of Super League leaders Huddersfield Giants, adding to the importance of their first meeting in 2013.

Taylor, who is hoping to face his old club Hull KR on Monday, has admitted he will take a keen interest in how his former colleagues are getting on when they take on their local rivals Hull FC later in the day.

"It would be nice to watch that one," he said. "I'm so excited to have my first Wigan-Saints derby coming up, but it will be nice to sit down and enjoy a Hull derby.

"I've got a lot of mates at Hull KR and I know how big it is for those two clubs. I'll definitely be watching it and will be glued to the television like any other fan."