STAND-OFF Kurt Gidley says winning silverware tomorrow, Friday, would add another memory to what has been one of the best experiences of his life.

The 34-year-old will line up for The Wire against Wigan as a key player in their quest to end a trophy drought that stretches back to 2012.

Despite his long and storied career that has earned him representative honours for New South Wales and Australia, Gidley has never won a club honour and says the whole team are keen to change that on Friday in front of their own fans to give them a boost going into the play-offs.

“It’d be a great achievement for me personally but more importantly it would be great for the team. We’ve been pretty consistent all year and the most consistent team deserves to win the League Leaders’ Shield,” he said.

“It’s a nice pat on the back for playing good footy throughout the year. It doesn’t mean a great deal when it comes to the two games after that but it’s a nice bit of recognition.

“We want to get it done this weekend, we want it sewn up as soon as possible and it’s fortunate for us that the chance has come to do it at home. It’s a great incentive for us to go out and beat Wigan.

“It’s been one of the best experiences of my life coming to Warrington. To see how passionate the fans are and the way they get behind their team is unbelievable.

“It’s the sort of thing I’ll never forget.”

Gidley returned to the team in last Friday’s 30-12 win over Widnes after recovering from the eye injury he picked up in the Challenge Cup Final two weeks earlier.

The Australian was forced off the field in the 58th minute at Wembley when The Wire were 10-0 up.

Opponents Hull FC found a way back into the game and snatched a late 12-10 victory but Gidley was determined to take the positives out of the day.

“We were all disappointed in the result, none more so than me as the game didn’t finish the way I wanted it to from a personal perspective,” he said.

“I think it was Jack Hughes whose elbow caught me, it was a complete accident and I guess that’s helped me get over it – knowing that I couldn’t have helped it.

“I had a great experience still. Everyone wants to play at Wembley whatever sport you play. You want to be on that main stage and it was an amazing atmosphere.

“We’ve bounced back brilliantly from that loss, we could have gone around kicking stones but we picked ourselves up and we’ve responded really well.”

With regular half-back partner Chris Sandow still absent with a knee injury, Gidley is likely to partner Dec Patton in the halves for a second week in a row.

The former Newcastle Knights man says he’s been keeping an eye on Patton’s progress and says he has the tools to go far in the game.

“I believe he’s a magnificent player, I’ve been watching him closely since I arrived and he’s an unbelievable talent,” he said.

“He’s very skilful, has a great passing and kicking game and is a really good talker at training.

“He’s a first-grader, there’s no question about that. I can see him being a full-time half-back for Warrington whenever Chris and myself leave, whenever that may be.

“He’s definitely up to the task. As a young guy you’ve always got to work on areas of your game but it’s up to him what sort of career he wants to make out of it.”