Big Joe Vagana will be carrying on his massive shoulders the hopes of a city, as well as hosts of Wigan tacklers, when he bashes his way down the middle of the Old Trafford pitch tomorrow.

Two of the men trying to stop him, his opposites in the front row, will be fellow Kiwi internationals. Vagana has played alongside and against Quentin Pongia and Craig Smith.

"I know a lot about them and they know a lot about me," said Vagana.

Playing against test team-mates - and rivals - isn't something that Vagana will use as a source of inspiration. He's plenty fired-up already.

"You don't need much inspiration for these sort of games. If you do you are in the wrong business. We've worked hard all year. It does add a little bit but you don't need much of an incentive to fire up," he said.

Coach Brian Noble's ability to rotate his massive front five - Vagana, Stuart Fielden, Paul Anderson, Daniel Gartner and Jamie Peacock - has long been the key to Bradford's success. And Vagana is under no illusion as to the responsibility he and his fellow big men will carry into tomorrow's game.

"Their strong point is their forwards. So we've got to do our job and then I'm pretty sure the likes of our big prop out wide (Vainikolo) will be scoring tries," said Vagana.

Tomorrow's match will rate as one of the biggest in the 25-test veteran's career.

"It doesn't get any higher than playing in a Grand Final. We've got 80 minutes left to come up trumps. Everybody looks forward to playing at Old Trafford because it means you are in the final. It's a long road to get to there. We've fought hard and we've gone through the ups and downs. There's just one more hurdle to go."

When Vagana signed from the Auckland Warriors in 2001 the New Zealand-based NRL club was at rock bottom. But a remarkable turnaround under new ownership has seen the club qualify for the play-offs, including reaching the Grand Final in 2002, in every year since his departure. Despite leaving in unhappy circumstances when the new owners refused to honour the players' existing contracts, Vagana has been pleased to see many of his former team-mates at last playing to their potential.

"In the beginning I was sad leaving. I wanted to stay there for my whole career. But things change. I've come here and I've enjoyed it. I love it here. There are a good bunch of guys and I settled in pretty quick."

Vagana has found himself unavailable for the annual New Zealand versus Australia tests played during the Super League season, including tomorrow's match in Wellington. But he hasn't given up hope of playing for his country again and will be taking a close interest in tomorrow's match.

"The TV will be on tomorrow morning and I'll be making a few phone calls, especially with my cousin Nigel playing.

"I'll be supporting the boys all the way.

"It's always the dream to play for the Kiwis. If they select me I'll put my hand up."