SAINTS face a tough test on Saturday (5pm) against a Catalans Dragons side that have proven to be a different proposition on their home turf this year.

Only Leeds have managed to lower the Dragons colours in Perpignan so far this season, but Saints, who flew out to Barcelona this morning for the four-day round trip, go there with confidence.

Back-to-back home wins, the settling back in of Luke Walsh and the return of full back Shannon McDonnell have given Saints that tonic after a sticky early spring spell.

And although mindful of Catalans’ ability to burn teams, with classy halves Todd Carney and Scott Dureau calling the shots, coach Keiron Cunningham is confident that they are going there thoroughly prepared.

James Roby returns to the team after sitting out the Wakefield clash, with the only other change likely to be the inclusion of packman Luke Thompson.

Cunningham said: “Catalans are tough at home.

“They have lost a little bit of the structure that they used to have under David Waite, who was quite regimented with what he did.

“Laurent Frayssinous has got them playing a lot of ad lib rugby and they have some great players who can do that.

“They have two great halves in Carney and Dureau, and Bosc can drop in if need be.

“They can play some really good rugby and have players to do that. They have their deficiencies like every side – but the trip is about us.

“If we go there and play to the best of our ability we should definitely be a tough team to go play against.”

Tricky stand off Carney, who joined the club this year from the NRL, missed Catalans’ defeat at Castleford at the weekend, but Cunningham anticipates his return on Saturday and is prepared for the threat he poses.

“I think Carney will be fit. He may have had a bit of a tweak in training and they probably decided he wouldn’t travel and so they are keeping him for big game against Saints.

“I reckon he will go with Carney and Dureau who are forging a good partnership in the halves,” Cunningham said.

That would make it quite an intriguing tussle, with two pairs of Australian halves making the play.

However, for that to happen Saints’ pack must get on top of the big men in the experienced Dragons ranks - with Louis Anderson, Remi Casty, Zeb Taia and Elliot Whitehead helping form a formidable unit.

The backline, especially the nimble full back Morgan Escare, is not afraid to express itself wither if the team can get on the front foot.

Last June’s clash resulted in a 42-0 massacre - one of the three or four lowest points of the season that dampened the mood among the fans.

Cunningham does not believe the history behind that result will count for much - stressing that it is what they do this weekend that matters.

“The teams that say Catalans is not a good trip are those that have gone there and lost.

“Last year we lost heavily and it was the worst trip in the world, but we have gone there in the past and won convincingly. Its how you do on the day that dictates.

“I’d like to think we have prepared well for it and can do much better than last year,” Cunningham said.

The squad fly into Barcelona today and from there they cross the Spanish-French border Perpignan.

The coach hope the team can benefit from the whole trip.

“We will do video and then will watch the rugby together on Thursday night.

“Then on Friday we will train and do video work- as a good team bonding exercise it is good.

“If the result is good, the players get the chance to spend time with each other on Saturday night, then travel home on Sunday,” he said.