FORMER All Black Va'aiga Tuigamala fired a warning to his Wigan team mates as they squared up for the battle of the champions against union double winners Bath tonight.

Inga, the winger - now one of the most feared centres in Super League - said: "We can't afford to underestimate them.

"We learned our lesson about complacency when we lost to Salford in the Challenge Cup."

Wigan are hot favourites for the Maine Road clash under league rules with the union follow-up marking Tuigamala's return to Twickenham on May 25.

Over 20,000 tickets have been sold for tonight's game and Wigan officials are optimistic that Maine Road's 32,000 capacity could be tested.

Said Inga: "It would be pretty embarrassing if we lose. I'd probably dig a hole and bury myself in it.

"But we are both champion teams and if both sides go out with all guns blazing then I really believe it will create a fantastic atmosphere the players and spectators will never forget. "As a player you have got to cherish the moments. This is not only a historical event but also a privilege to bring the two codes closer together.

"Bath have some great players and they will be up for it. Their tag as champions will carry them through."

Tuigamala meanwhile admits he has not ruled out the possibility of his eventual return to union.

"I'm not a fortune teller so I don't know what will happen in the future.

"I have been given a few opportunities since the game has gone professional to play union. But I would really need to sit down and see what is beneficial to me in the long term.

"Certainly it creates a lot of interest in the back of my mind to maybe want to go back and try it to see what I'm like after three years of isolation from the game. But at this stage I can't see any further into the future." Coach Graeme West said: "We are representing rugby league against another code and we have got to take up the challenge. Bath will be competitive and we have got to take it seriously."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.