Wigan captain Andrew Farrell lasted only 35 minutes

Wigan held off a spirited challenge from Warrington on Saturday to set up a mouth-watering Super League elimination semi-final against arch-rivals St Helens.

The Warriors extended their unbeaten run under caretaker coach Mike Gregory, a former Warrington favourite, to nine matches but had to survive two sin-binnings and come from behind to keep alive their Grand Final dream.

We didn't play particularly well - St Helens will be better next week and so will we Wigan coach Mike Gregory

Warrington rocked their hosts with robust defending and produced some clinical finishing to raise their hopes of a first away win over Wigan for 10 years.

They went in front with an 11th-minute penalty from free-scoring stand-off Graham Appo after Wigan prop Quentin Pongia was sin-binned for delaying the play-the-ball.

And in Pongia's absence, the visitors made the most of their numerical advantage by increasing their lead with a try from Darren Burns.

Warrington had already counter-attacked from one risky long pass by Wigan scrum-half Adrian Lam and did so a second time to send Burns through a yawning gap for the game's first try.

MATCH FACTS Wigan 25 Tries: Lam, Tickle, Dallas, Smith Goals: Farrell, Tickle 2, Robinson DG: Robinson Warrington 12 Tries: Burns, Wood Goals: Appo 2

Lam made amends with a try of his own when he raced on to a precision grubber kick from hooker Terry Newton on 26 minutes, and captain Andrew Farrell's conversion cut the gap to just two points.

However, Farrell, whose left leg was heavily strapped from the start, went off after 35 minutes and Wigan suffered another blow just moments later when centre Paul Johnson was sin-binned for obstruction.

Warrington again punished Wigan's indiscipline as captain Nat Wood collected a kick from Lam and raced 80 metres for a glorious solo try, this time unconverted by Appo, to give the underdogs a 12-6 half-time lead.

Rugby league need a strong, competitive Warrington and I'm proud that we have produced one this year Wolves coach Paul Cullen

But Wigan regrouped at the break and were back on terms within six minutes of the re-start, second rower Danny Tickle forcing his way over from acting half-back after prop Craig Smith had been held just short of the line.

With Farrell still off the field, Tickle converted his own try to level the scores and give the Warriors a platform from which to win the game in the closing stages.

Kris Radlinski sent in winger Brett Dallas and Smith finally forced his way over for a deserved try that eased Wigan through to the elimination semi-final.

Warrington: Cardiss, Westwood, Grose, Domic, Gaskell, Appo, N. Wood, Fozzard, Gleeson, P. Wood, Noone, Wainwright, Burns. Replacements: Hulse, Sibbit, Guisset, Stevens.