Dragons v Wolves: Teams

Pelo: Back for Catalans

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Catalans Dragons and Warrington Wolves go head-to-head on Saturday in the first professional rugby league game to take place on Spanish soil.

Barcelona's Olympic Stadium will host the contest as Super League looks to capitalise on growing interest in the sport in the Catalonia region.

A 32-30 triumph at home to champions Leeds Rhinos last time out has raised spirits in the Dragons camp and has been the source of some pride in the face of France's international mauling against England.

The loss of Greg Bird and Cyril Stacul from the Dragons' 19-man squad has been offset by the return of Dimitri Pelo, who has scored seven tries in the league this year, and Jamal Fakir.

The incoming pair both starred in Catalans' 40-20 triumph at the Haliwell Jones Stadium when the sides met at the start of the season and they will be hoping for a repeat performance.

Strengths

There have been big changes at Warrington since then, though, with Tony Smith masterminding a turnaround of fortunes that has seen the club move up to joint-seventh in the standings.

They currently lead the Dragons by two points and are an altogether stronger outfit than at the start of the season.

A run of five wins, including Carnegie Challenge Cup fixtures, came to an end at home to the Bradford Bulls last weekend.

But the losses of Adrian Morley and Ben Westwood to international duty can, at least in part, be blamed for that failing and coach Smith is fully focused on getting back on track in this landmark fixture.

"We're almost like pioneers of the game going to a new venue and a new area in a new country," Smith said.

"We're honoured to be part of that and very excited about it, as I'm sure the Catalans players are. We're part of history and we look forward to it.

"But at the same time, we're there to do a job and we're going to have almost like a home crowd with us as well because of the amount of travelling supporters.

"I hope they've got a lot to sing about and that's down to us and the way we perform. We want to make them proud."

New signing Brian Carney will have to wait for his Wolves debut after being omitted from Smith's 19-man squad, though, while Mickey Higham (torn bicep), Lee Briers (hamstring) and Matty Blythe (ankle) are all still sidelined through injury.

Westwood and Morley return to the squad after missing the game against Bradford due to international duty.

Catalans squad: Baile, Bell, Bosc, Carlaw, Casty, Croker, Elima, Fakir, Ferriol, Gossard, Greenshields, Guisset, McGuire, Mogg, Mounis, Pelo, Perry, Ryles, Touxagas.

Warrington squad: L. Anderson, V. Anderson, Bridge, Carvell, Clarke, Cooper, Grix, Harrison, Hicks, Johnson, King, Mathers, Mitchell, Monaghan, Morley, Rauhihi, Riley, Westwood, Wood.