ONE of the key battles of Saturday evening’s Grand Final will come at dummy half when the duel between two hookers of contrasting styles will take centre stage.

Given an equal footing from the pack the tussle between Saints’ Mr Perpetual Motion James Roby and the indomitable Wigan rake Michael McIlorum could be a game breaker.

Playing in his sixth Grand Final, Roby will relish the occasion – particularly as a St Helens lad playing against the old enemy.

The Man of Steel contender said: “Saints v Wigan is massive – if you grow up here you are taught that Wigan are the arch enemy and whatever opportunity you can get one over on them.

“That rivalry will add a lot of spice to the game. The fans will be here in their thousands and I am really looking forward to the atmosphere so hopefully on the pitch we can perform.

“As a St Helens lad I’d be made up to get one over on Wigan.”

The former Blackbrook Junior will be up against the abrasive number nine McIlorum, a hard knock cut from the same piece of playing rock as Terry Newton, and a man who always physically plants his standard in the middle of the park and urges his pack to join him in defending it.

McIlorum will be playing despite a suspected broken cheekbone, but Roby, who has taken a lead role in Saints’ charge to the final, will be concentrating on doing the parts of his game that he does so well rather than worrying about the health and wellbeing of his opponent.

And he can’t wait to get back to Old Trafford after a two-year absence.

“At the back end of the year you know that it is do or die as you come to the end of another season. We are one game from being the champions.

“After the injuries people said our season was over and a lot of people said we would not win the League Leaders’ Shield or get to the Grand Final.

“We are close knit bunch of lads and we talk to each other behind closed doors and we have realised that the squad we have got is more than capable and have proved that by beating the other teams to win the League Leaders'.

“We have changed little bits and obviously we miss Luke Walsh, a natural organiser, half back and kicker of the ball. Jonny and Wilko are both great players – so we have had to adapt and cover for each other.

“We have got into a rhythm and routine now.

“We have beat them, they have beat us, but it’s a Grand Final so there are no excuses for not getting up for it.

"On a night like the one coming up you have just got to go and give it your all.

"Great players play for years and never get to the Grand Final so for me it is a great privilege.

“We believe in ourselves as a squad and if we can stick to what do we know we are capable,” Roby said.

The last two months have seen a noticeable raising of Roby’s game – and increasingly he has been visibly taking on a leaders role in the middle.

Although Roby is quite used to leading by example, increasingly the absence of big voices Jon Wilkin and Luke Walsh have meant him taking that part of his game up too.

“It is just a case of doing it and being in the scenario where I am one of the senior blokes now. The responsibility is on me and the people around me to step up and say X, Y and Z to the other guys when it is called for.

“I have found myself talking a lot more – I would not necessarily call that leadership, but I just say my piece after they have scored or we have scored. I think I have kind of come naturally with my age when and what to say.

“Wello is the captain and I leave most of that stuff to him and try and help out."