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Gleeson: centre stage

Warrington supporters will see this as the sort of game they should come through no problem at all, but don't be fooled, this is a big banana skin for them. Not only have we seen Quins upset a few people already this season, but this is the type of match where the Wolves have come a cropper in the past.

Stevo
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WARRINGTON v HARLEQUINS
Live on Sky Sports
6.30pm, Sat, Sky Sports 2

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• Harlequins
• Warrington Wolves

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The outcome of this will tell us a lot about Warrington's credentials.

If there is one team capable of upsetting Leeds and St Helens this season it is Paul Cullen's men - but this is just the sort of game they need to win, and win convincingly.

Warrington supporters will see this as the sort of game they should come through no problem at all, but don't be fooled, this is a big banana skin for them.

Not only have we seen Quins upset a few people already this season, but this is the type of match where the Wolves have come a cropper in the past. For several seasons now they have shown glimpses of greatness, touches of skill and built up those supporters' hopes, only to crumple into a heap come crunch time.

If they can stop that happening on Saturday then, for all the praise Leeds have been getting, Warrington will have to be considered very serious contenders.

But they will have to do it without several key man. Louis Anderson and Stuart Reardon will be big losses of course, but it will be interesting how they fare without Lee Briers.

In the past, if Warrington didn't have Briers it wasn't even worth putting your hand in your pocket, never mind having a flutter on them. Now though, they have Michael Monaghan. I am not sure he will be 100 per cent after his own injury, but they will need him to drag himself through this one.

Without Briers I think the centre pairing of Martin Gleeson and Matt King will come into their own. Gleeson is playing his best rugby league since he left St Helens and is clearly benefiting from the man alongside him. Without Briers these two might play a lot tighter to the ruck, which is something they can both do very effectively.

But one of the things Brian McDermott has worked very hard on this season is defence and his side, if they are on their game, can be tough nuts to crack.

Quins also know that if they get anywhere near that Warrington line they will score. Scott Hill and Mark McLinden will be huge losses, but there is still enough guile about their attack to capitalise when they get close.

Responsibility

There is also a little doubt surrounding the fitness of Danny Orr. If he does make it, he will be the man they look to and his kicking could ask yet more questions of young Kevin Penny's defensive awareness.

If Orr is not fit, McDermott will have a big decision to make. He might throw one of the youngsters in, or more than likely, ask Julien Rinaldi to fill in. Whatever happens, Henry Paul's creativity will be vital to their chances.

Last season he was more of a workhorse, but there have been signs this season that the old creative spark is coming alive again. They will need all Henry's experience and influence if they are to get anything here.

It's not beyond them either. I can see Cullen sending his side out with a safety-first approach, playing for field position, just to test the water, before they think about cutting loose.

And I can see Quins concentrating on that defence knowing they can hit Warrington where it hurts if they get the chance. If they don't get the chance, then Warrington will confirm that they will be challenging on all fronts this season.

Stevo says

Home win - Will Paul Cullen take a gamble and blitz them away as Leeds did a couple of weeks ago? Or will they play it by ear and play it steady? I have a feeling it will be the latter, because Cullen knows this Quins side are capable of scoring whenever they get a sniff of the whitewash. But they can fall apart as well, probably because they have put so much into their defensive work this season, so anything could happen here. It should make fascinating viewing either way, but I am going to stick with the Wolves.

Stevo's star men

Martin Gleeson and Matt King - Just watch this centre pairing go! Without Lee Briers' ability to loop that ball out wide, I think we might see Warrington take it down the middle a little more. Expect these two to step up much closer to the ruck and expect them to see plenty of the ball. If they click - as they have done pretty much all season - they could be the difference.

Warrington by 1-5pts is 15/2 with Sky Bet. To have a flutter click here!