Rugby League - Wane not giving up on shield

Their 30-12 home defeat by Huddersfield a week ago – a fourth loss in six Super League games – leaves Wigan three points behind the Yorkshiremen with just three games left of the regular season.

Although the Giants’ fixtures are all against teams in the bottom half of the table, starting with the visit to bottom club London Broncos on Saturday, Wane believes a victory for his side over Catalan Dragons in Perpignan can maintain their interest in the shield.

“They’ve got one hand on it,” Wane admitted. “They’ve got a decent run-in and we’ve got some real arm-wrestle games but I still think we’ve got a chance of getting it back.

“I’m not convinced Huddersfield are going to win every game and, if we just keep knocking off these games, then the pressure is on them if they slip up.

“It wasn’t the best performance against Huddersfield but it was first v second so I’m not worried about our form at all. I’m quite chilled about where we’re at.”

Uncharacteristically, the Dragons have already suffered four home defeats this year and have lost their last five meetings with Wigan, most recently by 28-0 at the DW Stadium in March.

But they ended a three-match losing run with a last-gasp victory at Bradford last Sunday and need the points to avoid slipping out of the top six.

“They’re a quality team and it’s a tough place to go,” Wane said. “It’s also 30 degrees and it’s a test mentally for any team that goes over there.

“But we’ve had some good victories over there in the past, it’s quite a few years since we lost there.”

Wane is confident his side will be able to maintain their focus despite the obvious distraction of next Saturday’s final at Wembley.

The trip to France means they will have just three days’ preparation before making the trip to London.

“It’s not ideal,” he said. “We miss a day’s training before the cup final which is unfortunate but it’s how it’s panned out. We’ll make the best of it.”

Wigan winger Josh Charnley goes into the game needing one try to become the first Super League player to reach 40 in a season in the summer era.

The England international is currently level with Danny McGuire (Leeds) and Lesley Vainikolo (Bradford), who both scored 39 tries in all competitions in the 2004 campaign.

Rugby League - Wane not giving up on shield