By Paul Sculthorpe Great Britain star and BBC Sport Online columnist

To lose to Bradford last week and have to play another game to make it to the Grand Final was very disappointing.

There will have to be a marked improvement in our performance if we want to beat Wigan in the semi-final eliminator.

It was the way we played against Bradford that was disappointing. We did not stick to the things we practised and we paid the price for it.

Match report: St Helens 26-28 Bradford

The loss was the first defeat we have had at Knowsley Road all year - and hopefully the last.

We are desperate to bounce back on Friday against Wigan, and we can take heart from our second-half performance against Bradford.

We controlled the later stages of the game and got some good kicking in, and when Sean Long came on he proved how important he is to us.

Against Wigan we have to show that level of commitment and desire. Everyone must be fully switched on and no one can afford to perform for just 40 minutes instead of the full 80.

Andy Farrell is a danger man for Wigan

Wigan are a great side and have proved that by beating us three times already this season - twice in the league and of course in the Challenge Cup final at Murrayfield.

But we know that if we play at our best we can win any game. The three defeats to Wigan are probably three of the poorest games we have played all season.

Wigan are a class side from one to 17 and have dangerous players all over the pitch, but we will concentrate on our own game.

Reaching the Grand Final is hugely important for St Helens - for the club, the supporters and the town.

We have been playing all year for the chance to run out at Old Trafford and if we do not beat Wigan, the whole season will have been pointless.

The fans have been superb all year - they have out-sung and out-shouted teams home and away and I am sure they will be fired up for the old enemy on Friday.