Brian Noble today backed his 'awesome foursome' to make their Wigan critics pay for their cheap shots.

Warriors prop Terry O'Connor lit the touchpaper under tomorrow night's Super League opener by branding the Bulls quartet of props a spent force.

But the Bulls coach is confident that his key players will have the last word.

"I am sure that Paul Anderson, Joe Vagana, Stuart Fielden and Brian McDermott will have read O'Connor's statements about them," Noble said.

"But we are quite happy for our foursome of props to do their talking on the field where it matters.

Noble is, though, ready for a searching test of the Grand Final champions' Super League credentials.

"Wigan are a very talented side, much like St Helens, and are capable of scoring tries from anywhere.

"They have also made some good signings in Julian O'Neill, Jamie Ainscough and Craig Smith.

"And Terry O'Connor and Terry Newton are dangerous close to our line.

"But our main focus has been on ourselves, although we have obviously paid some attention to the way Wigan play.

"I would probably not have chosen it for the first league match, but then again we didn't know we were going to lose against Leeds in the Challenge Cup.

"And we always knew, with facing Newcastle Knights in the World Club Challenge and the Rhinos in the Challenge Cup before Wigan, that we were in for a tough start."

Noble's main concern this week is that it will be three weeks since the Bulls' last match when they take to the field in front of the Sky Sports cameras.

Noble said: "The lads have trained really well this week, and I am confident that we are going to play well.

"Mind you, we are not over-hyping tomorrow's clash - after all, we have to go there sometime - and are quite happy to take things game by game."