SAINTS will kick off next year's Magic Weekend event against derby rivals Widnes Vikings.

For the third year running the event will be held at Newcastle's St James Park.

Last May Saints pulled off a huge 45-0 win there against Challenge Cup winners Hull FC in Justin Holbrook's first game in charge.

Highlight of that game was Tommy Makinson's length of the field try.

That spectacular effort, in which he showed all the skills of his toolkit,  was voted try of the Saints season.

Magic seems to bring the best out of the Saints flank man, two years previously he flew off his wing to deny a late Warrington chance and that delivered victory.

Sandwiched in between was a bitterly disappointing defeat by Huddersfield to show it has not all been plain sailing on the Tyne.

The weekend will again be Saturday May 19 and Sunday May 20.

Saints' game will be followed by another derby between Wigan and Warrington, with a Grand Final repeat of Castleford and Leeds bringing the curtain down.

Day tickets are priced from £25 for adults and £12.50 for concessions. Weekend tickets are also available from £40 for adults and £20 for concessions.

Tickets can be purchased by visiting rugby-league.com/tickets or by calling the Rugby League Ticket Hotline on 0844 856 1113 (calls cost 7p plus your network connection).

The 2018 Magic Weekend schedule is as follows.

Saturday May 19.

Widnes Vikings v St Helens (15.00).

Wigan Warriors v Warrington Wolves (17.15).

Castleford Tigers v Leeds Rhinos (19.30).

Sunday May 20.

Salford Red Devils v Catalans Dragons (13.00).

Wakefield Trinity v Huddersfield Giants (15.15).

Hull KR v Hull FC (17.30).