SAINTS boss Justin Holbrook and star man Ben Barba both believe that Warrington Wolves can become a different beast under new coach Steve Price.

How different we will see tonight, 7.45pm, at the Halliwell Jones Stadium when league leaders Saints put their 100 per cent record to the test.

The Australian replaced the long-serving Wire boss Tony Smith in the off-season after a disappointing 2017 which saw them drop into the middle 8s.

Barba has first hand experience of the Wire boss; he was assistant coach at Cronulla in 2016 when the Saints full back helped the Sharks win the NRL Premiership.

Barba said: “Like the boys do here with Justin Holbrook, if the Warrington players buy in to what Steve Price wants and how he goes about his football I’m sure they’ll be a tough side to beat.

"He’s worked under some of the best coaches in the NRL, including Wayne Bennett.

"I’m sure he will do a wonderful job at Warrington.

“Pricey’s a good coach and I found him really helpful for my career especially in my time at the Sharks."

Wolves have endured a patchy start to the campaign, beating Wigan and Widnes, but losing to Leeds, Huddersfield and Hull.

However, Holbrook expects Wire to become a tougher nut to crack under Price

“He (Price) has already shown he wants a tough, hard working type of team,” Holbrook said.

“They have not won all of their games but they are competing hard in them all.

“Steve wants to get that work ethic in them, but they are a quality side that is for sure.

“It is one we respect a lot and it's going to be a tough game on Friday.”

Holbrook in particular singled out the Wolves pack which contains plenty of power.

“In Chris Hill, Mike Cooper and Ben Murdoch-Masila they have a pretty handy pack that will get better as the season goes on.

“I have been happy with our pack – but we know we will have to improve again on Friday,” Holbrook said.

Warrington will be without half back Declan Patton and prop Sitaleki Akauola due to suspension.

They are also without England international Ben Currie, but Kevin Brown returns having missed a week with concussion.

Bryson Goodwin, who has made an impressive start to the campaign, took a knock to his knee against Hull but is in contention having trained this week.

Saints make one change, with concussion victim Jon Wilkin sitting out for week, joining the already suspended Morgan Knowles on the sidelines.

Matty Lees comes in and it expected that he will spell Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook at loose forward.

Saints: 1. Jonny Lomax, 2. Tommy Makinson, 3. Ryan Morgan, 4. Mark Percival, 5. Adam Swift, 6. Theo Fages, 7. Matty Smith, 8. Alex Walmsley, 9. James Roby, 10. Kyle Amor, 11. Zeb Taia, 13. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 14. Luke Douglas, 16. Luke Thompson, 17. Dom Peyroux, 18. Danny Richardson, 19. Regan Grace, 20. Matty Lees, 23. Ben Barba.

Wolves 19: Ryan Atkins, Kevin Brown, Mitch Brown, Daryl Clark, Mike Cooper, Dom Crosby, Bryson Goodwin, Chris Hill, Jack Hughes, George King, Toby King, Tom Lineham, Harvey Livett, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Joe Philbin, Stefan Ratchford, Tyrone Roberts, Morgan Smith, Ben Westwood.