WOLVES boss Tony Smith says his side cannot afford to look beyond Saturday’s game against Catalans Dragons, kick off 3pm, as they fight for a place in Super League’s top eight.

The Wire welcome their French opponents to The Halliwell Jones Stadium for the first of their final five games before the competition splits.

Both sides are inside the bottom four, with Wolves four points adrift of eighth-placed Wigan in 10th.

However, Smith says looking too far ahead would be detrimental at a period in which dropped points could prove fatal to their chances of avoiding the Middle 8s.

“We win by performing well. If we don’t do that, the win won’t come,” he said.

“The focus is on doing our job well and doing it together.

“We’ll focus on this week, it’s up to other people to look beyond that but our job is to concentrate on Catalans.

“If we start looking at next week and the week after before we’ve dealt with that, we won’t do the job this week. We’ll just tick them off as we go.”

Smith’s men go into the game on the back of Saturday’s 27-26 loss to Wigan, a defeat which saw their Challenge Cup hopes ended.

While stressing it was far from their intention to bow out of the competition at the quarter-final stage, Smith admits being able to focus solely on Super League could prove to be “a godsend.”

“We would have liked to put all our energy into both competitions, but it does give us a chance to refocus,” he said.

“It doesn’t make these final five games any easier, but it certainly gives us more of a chance.

“Not having those extra games may well turn out to be a godsend.

“That’s how we have to use it now but as you saw from the efforts of the players against Wigan, it certainly wasn’t our intention to sacrifice the Challenge Cup.”

Wolves have brought in two new players in the past week, with centre Ben Pomeroy and utility back Peta Hiku joining from French side Lezignan Sangliers and NRL outfit Penrith Panthers respectively.

Smith is hopeful both new players will be in contention for next week’s game against Wakefield Trinity.

“Ben has a slight knee strain. He’s being treated for that and is responding really well,” he said.

“I’m hoping he has a chance for next week, that might be pushing it but he’s not far off.

“Peta will be here early next week. As long as he feels right, he’ll probably be available for the Wakefield game.”