Ace Flanagan ready to rock

St Helen's star Mark Flanagan

OLDHAM’S Mark Flanagan can’t wait to experience the atmosphere of a major final.

The 26 year old lines up for St Helens against former club Wigan Warriors in tomorrow’s First Utility Grand Final at Old Trafford (kick-off 6pm).

For Flanagan, it is his first taste of a showpiece rugby league occasion. It’s a far cry from 18 months ago when the son of former Oldham and Great Britain international Terry Flanagan suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury.

After recovering he has since reinvented himself as a scrum-half under coach Nathan Brown.

Fit and firing on all cylinders, he is now looking forward to the biggest game of his career: “I’ve never played in a final of any sorts as a professional before, so to play in front of a full house at Old Trafford is going to be an occasion I will always remember.

“I’ll probably be pinching myself to make sure it is real before I go out. I’m also expecting to feel a tingle down my spine because I’m sure the stadium will be rocking.

“That’s how it should be, it’s a big game.”

Saints are second favourites despite finishing the regular season a point ahead of their big North-West rivals at the top of the Super League table.

However, former Saddleworth Rangers junior Flanagan, who had two years at Wigan, is in bullish mood as the final approaches.

“We’re confident, our preparation has gone well, all we need to do is execute our game plan,” explained Flanagan, who switched to Saints in 2012 after a spell in Australia.