Friday 30th July 10

Warrington Wolves will again attempt to break one of Engage Super League's most infamous jinxes as they host St Helens tomorrow.

For all their recent improvements, the Wolves have been unable to break the stranglehold held over them by their rivals from Merseyside.

The Carnegie Challenge Cup holders have not beaten Saints since 2001, and that win was their only victory in 42 games against the Knowsley Road club.

In most of those encounters, Saints have been the dominant force in Super League but Warrington appear to have the edge going into their latest clash at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Tony Smith's second-placed team are two points ahead of Saints and, after ending one hoodoo by beating a fellow top-four side for the first time this season at Wigan Warriors a fortnight ago, they are confident.

Forward Paul Wood said: “I actually played in that last win against Saints at Wilderspool.

“It's been a long time coming but hopefully on Saturday we are going to do a job on them.

“It is a vital game for us now, the Saints and Wigan derbies are massive games for us.

“You get all the town talking about these two games. It should be a packed house and a really good game, a good test for us.

“There is a bit of pressure on us to perform but we have done well against Wigan and beaten them once.

“We've been beaten narrowly by Saints but we've got a chance to put that right on Saturday.”

Both teams have a big week ahead with the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup coming up.

Warrington tackle Catalans Dragons, who beat them in Perpignan last week, while Saints take on Super League champions Leeds Rhins.

Wood, who missed the trip to France with a quad injury but hopes to return against Saints, believes the Dragons loss will serve as a wake-up call.

The 28-year-old said: “I suppose it was better to lose that one than in the Challenge Cup, where you only get one shot.

“Maybe it came at a good time for us, a bit of a reality check. It puts everything into perspective and makes us work that little bit harder now knowing that we can get beat by bottom of the league teams if we are not 100%.”

Saints are likely to be boosted tomorrow by the return of legendary hooker Keiron Cunningham after five games out with a toe injury.

The 33-year-old is the only current Saints player to remember a Warrington defeat but coach Mick Potter accepts that record will change one day.

Potter said: “This set of players, apart from Keiron, wasn't around 10 years ago to be worrying about not being beaten by Warrington.

“I'm sure they understand it but I'm not sure that drives them.

“They just want to be competitive always and I think that's what drives them.

“It's a good record to have and at some stage something's going to give there.

“It's just about two points and it's going to be a close-fought contest, I would have thought."

In tomorrow’s other game, Hull FC travel to London to take on the Harlequins RL, looking to put last weekend’s bruising 46–0 defeat to Wigan behind them.

The loss meant the Black and Whites lost the top-four spot they have held for most of the season, but coach Richard Agar is looking forward to getting back on track in the capital.

He said: “Our overriding feeling was that our performance against Wigan was nowhere near the mark.

“But the response has been good and we’re not going to dwell on it. Defeats happen and we’re still in a good position in the league. We’ve got a lot to play for.

“We’ve got Mark O’Meley, Craig Fitzgibbon and Danny Tickle back and there’s no doubt they’ll add some experience and quality to our pack.”

Quins coach Brian McDermott is paying no attention to Hull’s defeat to Wigan, and is expecting them to produce a performance akin to the ones that had made them one of the favourites for the Grand Final.

“Last weekend they lost 46-0 to Wigan but we have not used that game as a tool in our preparations for Saturday. Hull have been pretty consistent this season and that is the team we are preparing to face,” he said.