WARRINGTON Wolves’ utility man Stefan Ratchford says that lifting the League Leader’s Shield would be a ‘massive achievement’ for the club, with the side just one win away from clinching the silverware.

The 28-year-old, who has flourished at full back this season, will get his hands on the trophy for the first time if the Wire beat Wigan Warriors at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Friday night.

It is five years since Warrington last won the League Leader’s Shield, with only Ben Westwood, Ryan Atkins, Ben Harrison and Rhys Evans remaining from the 2011 squad.

Ratchford, who joined the club ahead of the following season, said: “It’d be really special to lift the League Leader’s Shield – it’s something I’ve never done before and something I certainly want to do.

“At the start of the year we looked really good for winning the League Leader’s Shield and went on a good run but then we had a patch in the middle where we dropped off and went down to about fourth or fifth.

“It didn’t look like it was possible but we’ve just cracked on with our job and kept picking up the two points along the way and it’s put us in a really good position to be able to achieve something special.

“It’s something that the club has only done once before so to be able to be part of this squad and to hopefully to get the job done on Friday would be a massive achievement for the club.”

The team has bounced back from the disappointment of a defeat at Wembley in the Challenge Cup Final to win tough games against Catalan Dragons and Widnes Viking with a patched-up side in order to move into pole position for the League Leader’s Shield.

Stefan said: “We came up short at Wembley which was a massive, massive disappointment for the lads and for the whole club.

“To come away from that game with five or six injuries and to go to Catalan and win was unbelievable and the players who have come in have done a fantastic job over the last couple of weeks.

“I think that just show the character that we have got in the squad and the quality in depth as well.

“It was disappointing to lose the Challenge Cup but if we sat back and dwelled on that then the rest of the season would have been a write off.”

The Wire will be hoping to replicate the results of the two Super League meeting between themselves and Wigan in April – a 28-16 win at the DW Stadium and a 40-10 home victory.

Wigan-born Ratchford added: “Obviously we’re really looking forward to the game – it will be a really tough game against a tough Wigan side.

“They’re really resilient and they showed it last week at Hull where they looked down and out at times but they just don’t go away.

“Over the last few years we’ve both been competing at the top and it’s built up the rivalry nicely.

“It all adds to the atmosphere and it tends to be close to a sell-out – it’s a pretty special atmosphere and a special game to be involved in.

“The lads really appreciate the support and the numbers that they turn out in and hopefully on Friday it will be close to a sell out for a game that could see us pick up the League Leader’s Shield.”