EXCITEMENT, nerves and tension.

The atmosphere is building as Saints prepare to walk out at Old Trafford for the Super League Grand Final this Saturday.

Saints will make their 11th Grand Final appearance as they face the in-form Salford Red Devils in the showpiece season finale.

It is the club’s first appearance at the Theatre of Dreams since their famous win over Wigan in 2014 and Saints will look to give coach Justin Holbrook the perfect send-off before he departs to take charge at the Gold Coast Titans in Australia’s NRL for 2020.

Ahead of the big match, the Star has spoken to supporters who are looking forward to the occasion.

Saints historian Alex Service said: “If they play their normal game, the should win but it’s a one-off.

“It should be a marvellous occasion, the hope is it will be a real spectacle.

“Salford are coming good at just the right time.

“Obviously (Jackson) Hastings is the real go-to man but everyone through the team are playing to their maximum.”

Alex added: “For Saints, against Wigan (James) Roby got them going and they couldn’t recover.

“A lot of the Saints players have played in a Grand Final before.

“It’s not like Wembley, this time we’ve got a few more who have played in a Grand Final and I think that will put us in good stead.

“I hope Saints play the Saints way and the forwards will get on top.”

Meanwhile, Brian Mulcrow, 63, added: “I just hope that they play well in a final.

“If they play well and do themselves justice for the season they have had, losing only three league games, then I will be happy. If Salford manage to beat us, then good luck to them.

“I think Justin Holbrook would deserve it for what he has done for us over the past two and a half seasons, it would be the fitting send-off and nothing more than he deserves.”

Dave Howarth, from Dentons Green, said: “If we turn up on Saturday, you expect us to win but at the end of the day Salford are there on merit and if they get stuck in for the first 15 minutes who knows what happens.

It will be a tough game.

“It has been five years and there’s a lot of excitement. There seems to be a greater interest in this one.

“From where we were when Holbrook came in two years ago, we’ve had the new players come in and make us stronger than last year.

“There would be nothing greater than for us to win and get Justin that win he richly deserves.”