Saints v Wolves: Teams

Morley: Determined to end losing run against Saints

After this year it's going to be no more. The boys are excited to go there and get the elusive win against the Saints and it would be nice to do it on their home turf

Adrian Morley on 16-year jinx
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Warrington will be desperate to end their 16-year jinx at the home of St Helens when the Super League play-offs get underway on Friday night.

Saints secured a home tie in the opening round after pipping the Wolves to second place in the final regular season table on points difference.

A trip to the GPW Recruitment Stadium now faces Tony Smith's side - and history is certainly not on their side.

Warrington have not won at the home of their local rivals since January 1994, when they triumphed 21-11 in a Stones Bitter Championship match.

Confident

However skipper Adrian Morley is confident the Wolves can register just their second win over St Helens, losers in the last three Grand Finals, in the Super League era.

"We've been in the top two all year so to get pipped in the last round was quite disappointing but I'm delighted that we get a chance to play at Knowsley Road again," said the England international.

"After this year it's going to be no more. The boys are excited to go there and get the elusive win against the Saints and it would be nice to do it on their home turf.

"We could go back there in the major semis but I'm sure it will be our last visit to Knowsley Road. It's a great old stadium, I've got lots of memories of the place."

Morley was one of three Warrington players to be selected in the engage Super League Dream Team this week, the experienced forward being joined by second-rower Ben Westwood and centre Matt King.

The Wolves have a full-strength squad for this week, with Smith even able to leave out former St Helens back rower Vinnie Anderson.

In contrast Saints have problems, particularly at the half-back positions. First-choice pairing Leon Pryce and Kyle Eastmond are both sidelined, with the former ruled out for the rest of the 2010 campaign with a neck problem.

Jonny Lomax is also rated doubtful, meaning coach Mick Potter has had to recall Matty Smith, whose last appearance for his home-town club was two-and-a-half years ago, from his season-long loan at Salford.

However rugby union-bound Maurie Fa'asavalu gives the hosts a boost by returning to the 19-man squad for the first time since he damaged a shoulder.

Home advantage

Potter believes securing second place, thanks to a last-minute try from Keiron Cunningham against Castleford last Saturday, might prove crucial.

"It's a good thing to have the crowd right behind you," he said. "It's definitely an advantage.

"You don't want to be that losing team in the first week of the semis because it does make it hard," he said. "You've got to win every week. You want to leapfrog to that game within a Grand Final if you can.

"That's not to say it can't be done the other way but it just makes it more difficult. You never know what sort of injuries you're likely to suffer."

Saints have won their last six outings but face a Warrington side chasing the double following their Carnegie Challenge Cup win at Wembley.

"They're a good team," added Potter. "They're going to be difficult to stop.

"They strike all over the park, they are tough enough to grind it out up the middle if they have to and they play a game that's non conventional so we will have to be on our guard.

"We've competed against them before so we know what to expect. The players won't need any motivation, the occasion will bring out the best in everyone."

St Helens squad: Wellens, Gardner, Gidley, Soliola, Meli, Cunningham, Graham, Puletua, Wilkin, Flannery, Roby, Hargreaves, Moore, Clough, Dixon, Fa'asavalu, Lomax, Emmitt, Foster.

Warrington squad: L. Anderson, Atkins, Bridge, Briers, Carvell, Clarke, Cooper, Harrison, Hicks, Higham, King, Mathers, Monaghan, Morley, Myler, Riley, Solomona, Westwood, Wood.