SAINTS travel to Warrington on Saturday (3pm) very much as underdogs against a side that has already defeated them twice this year.

Although last Sunday’s win at Huddersfield lifted them up to fourth, it remains incredibly tight five teams still battling to clinch the last three play-off spots.

Saints need to win at least one of their remaining fixtures, two to make absolutely certain but a positive result at Warrington would provide a massive tonic.

Unlike some observers, coach Paul Wellens has not written this weekend off to focus on the final two rounds.

Wellens said: “Some people will see them as favourites and that Warrington will be a difficult place to go, with them having already beaten us twice this year.

“It is a tough game for us but we are going there with a tough mindset of what we need to do to win the game.”

The game will throw an interesting duel of sorts between two players, who played in the same England Academy team together earlier this year – Harry Robertson and Cai Taylor-Wray.

Warrington, as they showed with the way they savaged a full strength Saints team in the Challenge Cup, are a potent attacking force.

The Wolves have been a different beast altogether under Sam Burgess compared to the toothless animal of his immediate predecessors.

They have added extra physicality as the year has progressed by bringing in Luke Yates and John Bateman.

But it is their speed out of dummy half, if they earn quick rucks, and they way George Williams can exploit that by finding speedsters on the flanks that have already exposed Saints’ vulnerabilities on the edges this year.

Wellens said: “Warrington have a number of threats – they are a dangerous team – particularly off the back of ruck speed and that is where the likes of George Williams comes into the game really effectively and with Matt Dufty out they now have Cai Taylor-Wray has been doing a great job there.

“They have strike in the three-quarters, players like Matt Ashton, Toby King, Josh Thewlis and Rodrick Tai playing well – they have strike all over the field and we’ll have to work hard to nullify that.”