SAINTS coach Paul Wellens was delighted to see Penrith Panthers name their strongest available squad for Saturday's battle of the hemispheres in Sydney.

A two-time winner of a World Club Challenge as a player, Wellens starts his coaching career looking to take out this prestigious pot in rugby league's clash of the titans.

In this interview Wellens talks about the focus sharpening in game week, what they learned from Saints' win over St George-Illawarra, the selection headaches he has picking the 18 and the lessons Saints can learn from their previous two World Club Challenge victories.

Saturday's game is one to relish, with the 4-some Saints taking on the back-to-back NRL Premiers in their own backyard.

Wellens said: "It pits the two best sides on each side of the world against each other and it's a huge challenge.

"The fact that Penrith have chosen a full-strength side shows how serious they are about this game as well."