STEFAN Ratchford says it is “not in his nature” to take his place in the Wire team for granted as he gets set to return to the side.

The England international – rested for last week’s win over Salford Red Devils after helping his country beat New Zealand in Denver along with Chris Hill – will slot back in at full-back as Wolves travel to Wigan Warriors tomorrow.

Mitch Brown stepped into Ratchford’s shoes against the Red Devils and performed admirably, with Warrington Guardian readers voting the Australian as their man of the match.

Ratchford says Brown’s performance serves as a warning both to him and the rest of the squad that people are ready to take their place should they not perform on any given week.

“I never take my place in the team for granted. I never have and I don’t think I would ever do that,” he said.

“We have a big squad for a reason. If you’re not performing then you’re out and the next person’s in.

“I’d never assume I’m playing or taking anything for granted. It’s not in my nature.

“Every time I go out there I want to perform to the best of my ability.

“Me and Hilly would have happily played, but there were a couple of boys who have been a bit unfortunate not to be in the team lately and they got the chance.

“They both played really well and it shows what we are about here.

“We are a unit and whoever plays, the lads who miss out are rooting for them.”

The Wire have already beaten Wigan twice this season, with the most recent meeting resulting in a 23-0 Warrington victory in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals last month.

However, Ratchford insists that does not mean Wolves have the Indian sign over their neighbours and pointed the meeting between the sides at Magic Weekend – where the Warriors claimed a dominant 38-10 win – as an example.

“Regardless of table position or whatever has gone before, Wigan v Warrington is always a massive game,” he said.

“It’s a local derby, it’s always a packed house and Friday will be no different.

“I’m sure the Challenge Cup game has been spoken about in their camp and I’m sure it’s something they will be desperate to put right.

“If you take away the Challenge Cup game, we had a good result against them earlier in the season.

“On the other hand, they did a real good number on us at Magic Weekend and absolutely battered us that day.

“I wouldn’t necessarily say we’ve got the measure of them. Whatever side they put out, it will always be full of quality.”

Ratchford is one of many Wigan-born players in the Wire side and he says there will be plenty of his friends rooting for the hosts at the DW Stadium.

The 29-year-old, however, says he wants to be able to rub it in with his pals by helping Warrington to a precious two points.

“I love playing at the DW. There’s a lot of people who I know that attend the games,” he said.

“If the result is in the bag and I know we’ve got the win, I can start having a look in the crowd to see who I can see and give them a cheeky wink.

“I know a lot of the Wigan lads and staff. With being from Wigan, you bump into a lot of people down there.

“It’s always a game I get very excited about.

“It’s a great stadium, a great pitch and it’s usually a great game.”