SAINTS skipper Jon Wilkin has had February 22 penned in his diary in big red letters ever since missing last year’s Grand Final through a shoulder injury.

And he is determined to emulate predecessors Chris Joynt and Sean Long in lifting a flatter looking World Club Challenge trophy at Langtree Park on Sunday night.

Wilkin wants to leave all the benchmarking exercises to others and explains that Saints are not running out in front of a sell-out crowd to simply be competitive against the NRL Premiers.

He knows exactly how tough it is going to be - but he desperately wants to win it, probably more so being one of the players who missed out at Old Trafford.

Wilkin said: “When I got injured last season this game has really been my focus.

“I knew the World Club would be my next big game should we win the comp. Since then I have just been keen to get ready “It is a huge night for me personally, but more so for the club and the town.”

This crop of players is vastly different in profile, age and experience to the one that lifted the cups against Brisbane in 2001 and 2007.

And as a result of their youth, Wilkin believes that some members won’t yet understand how big this could be for them as individuals.

“It is a ridiculously important game for the players in the context of your career. There are some young guys who probably don’t realise that yet, but for the club the town and the fans this is huge,” he said.

“St Helens is a small place and for it to be the home of the world champions is an exceptional story that should penetrate beyond the boundaries of rugby league.”

But the 31-year-old skipper believes being a young man’s team can actually help, rather than hinder them in the big games to come - starting with Sunday’s series showdown.

“We are a younger team and less established with internationals, but one of the things I have noticed is that you change directions really quickly in terms of game plan and tactics because those younger guys can really absorb information.

“Often older players can be stuck in their ways - a lot of our youth can flick between styles of game.

“The game is going to be really physical and tough, and knowing Michael Maguire it is going to be intense.

“It is going to be decided on a few key moments.

“As a rugby fan and supporter of the game I can allow myself to get excited by the attendance, the stadium being full and the atmosphere within the ground and the attention of world rugby being on our brand, but with the rugby side we will detach ourselves.

“We just want to win. We are preparing to win the game, not to simply compete and see where we stand in relation to South Sydney.

“It is not an exercise to see how Super League compares to NRL - that is for others to speculate on, we are just preparing to win the game, that’s it,” he said.