Wigan playmaker Trent Barrett is ready to pick up from where he left off on in his memorable debut season in Super League.

The former Australian Test stand-off was the stand-out performer with the Warriors in 2007 and narrowly missed out to James Roby on the prestigious Man of Steel award.

The 30-year-old former St George Illawarra captain, who missed only one match and finished the season as the club's leading tryscorer, is back refreshed for the second season of a three-year deal.

"I've had a good break and I feel really good," he said. "We've had two good trials and we're just looking forward to getting started.

"Last year was certainly tough and very long. The amount of games we play over here is a lot more than we play at home and that took some getting used to but I hadn't enjoyed my footie that much for a while."

Barrett has already had two trial run-outs with his half-back partner Thomas Leuluai and, with a full season's experience at the Warriors behind him, is confident he can help the team can get off to a better start than in 2007, when they lost three of their first four matches.

"I've been here 12 months now so I'm pretty familiar and comfortable with relationships off the field and partnerships on the field," he said. "It makes everything a lot easier.

"Everything seems to fall back into place a little bit quicker so hopefully we can win some games a bit earlier than we did last year."

After missing out on the play-offs in the previous two seasons, Wigan snatched sixth spot with a last-day victory over St Helens and went within 80 minutes of an unlikely trip to Old Trafford.

Coach Brian Noble admits he would not mind a similar season, but without the salary-cap trauma that saw them docked four competition points.

"I thought we had a terrific year," he said. "Obviously there were a couple of high-profile incidents that were there for all to see.

"I'm confident that, with the way the players have applied themselves in pre-season and if we stay reasonably healthy, we should be in with a shout.

"There is a hunger and an appetite after last season and the nucleus of the decision-makers is still there. We are hoping to add some bullets for them to fire.

"I'm really pleased with the trial games so far and we've another one to come. We're slightly ahead of where we were last year."

Prop Stuart Fielden, who has sat out Wigan's first two trial matches after undergoing shoulder surgery, is likely to miss the opening Super League game at Harlequins on February 9.

Fielden's former Bradford team-mate Karl Pryce, who has joined Wigan after a brief stint in rugby union at Gloucester, is also doubtful for the opener as he continues his recuperation from a broken foot and winger Mark Calderwood will miss at least two rounds as he recovers from a broken ankle.

But Richard Mathers, the former Leeds full-back who has joined the Warriors from Gold Coast Titans, was yesterday given the all-clear to make his comeback from a knee reconstruction and could face Widnes in the club's final friendly on Sunday.

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