Wigan's match is the only Super League game taking place this weekend and a victory is needed to close the three-point gap on fourth-placed Warrington.

Noble said: "It's a massive game. I am not going to call it in any other different way, shape or form. Friday night will dictate as to where we finish, in my opinion."

Finishing fourth, rather than fifth or sixth, gives a team home advantage in the sudden-death play-offs.

Friday's fixture is re-arranged from June 6 due to the JJB Stadium pitch replacement work.

Pat Richards is gearing up for a return to the team after missing last Friday's hammering through illness. Phil Bailey and Paul Prescott could also figure.

Richards said: "I had a virus and it knocked me out, I couldn't get out of bed.

"My wife Kim came home from work feeling ill and within 20 minutes I'd gone down. I'm on the mend now, it was one of those 48 hour things and I'll be right for Friday."
Huddersfield, beaten 18-19 by Warrington last Saturday, are 11th in the table.

They have not won away from home all year, but Richards is not under-estimating the Yorkshire outfit. He won an NRL Grand Final in 2005 alongside former Wests team-mates John Skandalis, Shane Elford and Paul Whatuira and is also aware that – with incoming coach Nathan Brown tracking their progress from Australia – the players will be out to impress.

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