Woolf and Walmsley expect a test, but Scully is scathing about Wolves

Kristian Woolf’s men shook off the effects of their Challenge Cup knockout with a home win against Hull last week, whilst Thursday's opponents Wolves suffered another heavy drubbing at Catalans.

There is always a certain amount of crackle about this fixture – helped by the rivalry and the packed end of travelling support.

It is a game Saints players look forward to with prop Alex Walmsley fired up for the encounter.

He said: “The way the fans come out it can feel like a home game here at times and it creates a great atmosphere.

“Warrington have been struggling for form but it will be a typical Saints v Warrington game.

“There’s never any boring games here between the sides.

“We are expecting Warrington at their very best and know what a challenge that is when they are.”

Walmsley believes the wounded Wolves will be a dangerous proposition.

He said: “I know if I was in their situation their teamtalk would be so easy this week.

“They are up against us, their biggest rivals in a big derby – it will be easy for them to get fired up.

“They are dangerous side to come up against off the back of a defeat.

“They will be tough and up for it and we are expecting a really tough tussle.”

Saints coach Woolf also sees the threat posed by Wolves, rather than one that is shaky and vulnerable after two heavy defeats by Wigan and Catalans.

He said: “I see a side that are dangerous.

"If you looked at the players they had at the start of the year and the squad they have named for Thursday, everyone would have said a top-four or top five side and one that would be dangerous at the end of the year.

“That doesn’t change – players don’t lose their talent, but obviously they haven’t had the results go their way.

“They have lacked confidence at times but they are still a dangerous side.

“When you lose a game like they did at the weekend, you generally want to make amends the following week.

“I have no doubt that a big game against us, a local rivalry and a home game for them is going to be one that they will put a lot of energy into.

“It is a game we will be prepared for.

“We need to challenge their confidence and challenge their approach.

“If we play at our best we are a very hard team to beat, that is all we have to worry about - not where other teams are at.”

Former Saints skipper Paul Sculthorpe, who started his pro career at Warrington, was less diplomatic about the Wire’s performances so far this year.

He believes Saints pack will have too much for the Wire, who have not clicked under Daryl Powell yet.

Writing in his weekly Star Betfred column Sculthorpe declared: “The Wolves, under the new regime of Powell & Co were probably the most fancied team to stop Saints from winning title number four.

“But with just five wins from 12 games this has been far from the case.

“For me, it’s simple…his players are not good enough with too many overrated and underperforming.

“I know Daryl, and his attitude to the game, and it seems the players are not buying in to his culture, or not capable of doing as he asks.

“Either way these performances will not be acceptable at a club like Warrington.”

You can almost hear Daryl Powell’s scissors in overdrive as he cuts out those words to pin on the dressing room walls as part of their teamtalk.

Let battle commence.