SAINTS have named an unchanged side for Friday night’s trip to the DW Stadium.

Wigan are missing Taulima Tautai and Josh Charnley through suspension, but skipper Sean O’Loughlin returns after his one-game ban.

Warriors also welcome back feisty back rower John Bateman after an internal club suspension that has kept him out since 26 May.

And to add an extra bit of crackle to the contest, Wigan give a home debut to new signing Frank-Paul Nu’uausala, who was initially linked with a move to Saints.

Saints boss Keiron Cunningham said: “Wigan are going to come out firing and we are going to have to batten down the hatches for plenty of the game.

“But we are not bad ourselves and quite big and physical too.

“Both clubs are where they want to be, Wigan are stood tall near the top and we are battling to get in the top four.

“We have just got to keep fighting every week.

Waney is passionate about the derby and he will pick his best possible available team.

“They will have Bateman back and Frank Paul Nu’uausala will be playing and they will all be chewing on bricks.”

The apparent leniency of Wigan skipper O’Loughlin’s one-match for a reckless high tackle on Chris Annakin provoked controversy.

Cunningham believes the panel must have taken into account O’Loughlin’s record.

He said: “The grading system said 2-3 but the panel ruled one game and we have to take that judgement.

“You have to look at his record, he had played the game for 16 years and never been sent off in his life.

“He is similar to me – I was a physical player but was clean and was never sent off – but sin-binned once.

“Lockers is like that- a big physical player and his record has to be taken into consideration.

Having won their last four games in a row, Keiron Cunningham will select his 17 from: 1. Jonny Lomax, 3. Jordan Turner, 4. Mark Percival, 5. Adam Swift, 7. Luke Walsh, 8. Alex Walmsley, 9. James Roby, 10. Kyle Amor, 11. Atelea Vea, 12. Jon Wilkin, 13. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 14. Lama Tasi, 15. Greg Richards, 17. Luke Thompson, 20. Joe Greenwood, 22. Jack Owens, 23. Shannon McDonnell, 24. Matty Fleming, 28. Morgan Knowles.

Shaun Wane will choose his 19 from:1. Sam Tomkins, 4. Dan Sarginson, 5. Dominic Manfredi, 6. George Williams, 7. Matty Smith, 8. Dominic Crosby, 10. Ben Flower, 13. Sean O’Loughlin, 14. John Bateman, 16. Sam Powell, 17. Lee Mossop, 20. Oliver Gildart, 21. Ryan Sutton, 22. Lewis Tierney, 24. Frank-Paul Nu’uausala, 25. Willie Isa, 30. Jack Higginson, 33. Kyle Shelford, 35. Jake Shorrocks.

The game kicks off at 8pm.