STEVE Price has highlighted the importance of giving his Wire players some much-needed rest ahead of their game against Hull Kingston Rovers tomorrow, kick off 3pm.

Their 22-6 win at Salford Red Devils on Saturday – their fifth in succession – brought to an end a gruelling sequence of three games in just eight days.

The squad were given some time off before returning to training Wednesday ahead of Saturday’s game at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Price says the players have come back in fine fettle as they look to keep their impressive form going.

“It’s important that they got some mental space after a torrid campaign through Easter,” he told the Guardian.

“I was really proud of how they carried themselves throughout those games.

“You can certainly see there is a belief amongst the group and the strength of their mental resilience is growing.

“That is very pleasing, but we still have to be aware of the knock-on effects in a few weeks’ time.

“We gave the boys a couple of days off. They came back on Wednesday in really good shape and we’ll be ready to go against Hull KR on Saturday.”

Centre Toby King will miss the game with a hamstring injury, with Ryan Atkins expected to take his place in the starting line-up.

King joins Ben Murdoch-Masila (knee) and long-term absentee Jack Johnson (broken leg) on the treatment table, but Mike Cooper is fit after suffering an elbow injury at Salford.

The Wire sit third in the Super League table but have played as many as three games more than teams around them.

However, Price says he is happy to have the points on the board as opposed to games in hand.

The Wire head coach has also called upon his team to “expect the unexpected” when ninth-placed Rovers arrive in Cheshire.

“I’d always rather be in the position we’re currently in,” he said.

“We set ourselves a target to be a top-four team and that hasn’t changed. It’s important we keep growing the belief that’s building.

“If we continue to do that, as well as striving for improvement, that’s all I can ask for.

“We spoke about the block we wanted to tick off over Easter and the boys have accomplished that.

“This week is the start of a new block, but we can’t look too far ahead.

“Hull KR are going to be desperate.

“A side coached by Tim Sheens is always going to be well prepared, so we have to expect the unexpected.

“I respect all coaches, but his record speaks for itself. He’s achieved a hell of a lot in the game.

“They put a really big scoreline on Huddersfield on their home track in tough conditions.

“They are a well-coached football team, so we have to be well prepared.”