The opening clash in the new Super League season will be like a cup final for Wigan ... but just another outing for the Bulls.

That's the verdict of Bulls' Great Britain back row, Mike Forshaw, who believes that Wigan are jealous of Bradford's success.

Forshaw believes that playing against Bradford gives the Warriors a spark in their build-up because they are envious of the world champion's status.

But Forshaw, who began his career with Wigan and still lives near the town, said that it was "just another game for us".

"Wigan used to have all the best players and win by 30 points every game," said Forshaw, looking to secure the first of many wins in the season opener at the JJB Stadium.

"But things have changed and I think there is envy about what Bradford have achieved. There will be a buzz around Wigan because of our visit, they feel they have something to prove, to show they are still a force in rugby - it will be like a cup final for them.

"But it is just another game for us, they are one of the many teams we have to beat and we are ready for them.

"I have played against them so many times now, around 20, that any soft spot I have had for them has long gone."

He revealed that following the defeat to Leeds in the Challenge Cup it was "soul-destroying" knowing there was no match at the end of a hard week of training.

"It took a while to get our heads straight," he added.

"But we have knuckled down and training has been very productive for us and we are looking to get back out there and showing what we are capable of.

"It will be a long, hard season and maybe the extra free weeks that the cup defeat has handed us will work in our favour for the Super League campaign."

And coach Brian Noble believes his boys are ready for the long slog of Super League Hea7en.

"The marathon starts here," said Noble, who will be picking from a full squad for the match, apart from the suspended Leon Pryce.

"This is a new beginning for us. The Newcastle Knights game is in the past, the Leeds game is in the defeat, things start here and we are looking for a good performance.

"I don't feel we have anything to prove to anyone other than ourselves. We need to play well because of the way we performed last time out and we are usually pretty good at that after we have had a defeat."

He added that he was very happy with the way the training had gone and felt the team were upbeat about the game.

l Wigan Warriors coach Stuart Raper has named an 18-man squad, naming the same 17 players that have won two cup games so far but has added Simon Haughton as cover for prop Craig Smith, who twisted an ankle last week in France.