WARRINGTON Wolves’ fans have a huge part to play in their team reaching a third successive Grand Final.

I know from speaking with the players what it means to them and how it helps them when the North Stand at Wigan’s DW Stadium is bathed in primrose and blue and bellowing out significant noise.

Such a roar from the 5,400 capacity end can put an extra stride of pace and an additional ounce of grit into a player’s determination as he seeks a telling pass, a crucial try or an important tackle.

In recent years, Wolves’ travelling army has been treated to some very special performances from the team at the home of the arch-enemy, and another one could be in store on Friday night if everyone pulls together.

Ticket sales have gone well, as they should do, for the game of the season and a chance to cheer Wolves to Old Trafford as they once again aim to end a championship drought that stretches all the way back to 1955.

I’ve never hidden my view that Wolves would have achieved the holy grail at last year’s Grand Final against Wigan had it not been for significant injuries sustained in the second half, allowing Wigan a fightback that had not looked likely when Tony Smith had a fit 17 at his disposal.

It wasn’t a case of Wigan being crowned champions by default, but there would be some poetic justice in my view if Wolves could end Wigan’s reign as top dogs on their opponents’ home turf tomorrow.

As well as the high stakes and the fierce rivalry, I think the fact that this play-offs semi-final is on Friday night will help to increase the attendance figure.

Many rule out attending Thursday night games because of work or school the next morning, and the treachery of the M62 if travel is needed over the Pennines.

I have to pay tribute to those Wolves fans who were able to make it over to Castleford last Thursday — 19 coach-loads is a fantastic effort — while thousands more were screaming at television sets.

Crowd levels have been poor for the play-offs series, but what do the game’s governors expect?

Families, a target audience for this sport, have a lot of outlays at this time of year, including finding their feet again after summer holidays, buying school uniforms, saving for Christmas, saving for next year’s season ticket, splashing out on a trip to Wembley for the Challenge Cup final, holding out in the hope of having Grand Final night expenses too.

If the play-offs could somehow be tied into the season-ticket packages that are made available as good deals, supporters would not have been staying away.