WARRINGTON Wolves prop Roy Asotasi and hooker Daryl Clark are looking forward to the challenge of facing NRL club St. George-Illawarra Dragons in the first match of the 2015 World Club Series on Friday, February 20 at The Halliwell Jones Stadium, kick off 8pm.

Asotasi, who is entering his second season for the Wolves, wants to use the First Utility Super League’s opening two fixtures as catalysts from which to build momentum going into the duel with the Dragons.

“We are focusing on notching up a couple of wins before we play St. George-Illawarra,” said Asotasi.

“If we do that then it will definitely be a fiery clash, though I’d expect it to be like that anyway given how competitive both competitions are.

“It’s going to be a great spectacle and I’m sure everyone in Super League will be counting down for that weekend and will get all dressed up and ready to support the competition – and we’ll do our best to make sure we come away with a win.

“It’s a great concept and raises the profile of both competitions. It gives the opportunity to players from Super League and NRL to mix and mingle.

“If you look at the three teams – Wigan, Warrington and St. Helens – they have all got their fair share of former NRL players and they’ll all give a ‘heads up’ on the different styles of playing but one thing that goes against them playing over here is that it is on our home turf.

“They’re coming here used to their hot summer weather – it won’t be warm here, it’s going to be cold. It has snowed a couple of time this winter which, unlike some people, I don’t mind, just as long as it doesn’t snow on the weekend we play St. George-Illawarra!”

Clark, who joined Warrington in the winter following a memorable 2014 which included a Wembley appearance and being named Steve Prescott Man of Steel and Young Player of the Year, is excited for the World Club Series and knows that, in players like Asotasi and fellow new recruit Ashton Sims, the Wolves have some insider NRL knowledge.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” said Clark. “It’s going to be massive for the clubs that are involved; it’s our top teams against some of the top teams from over there.

“Having an expanded competition gives more teams the chance to have a crack against the Aussie teams and for players to test themselves against the so-called ‘best’ teams in the world and hopefully we will get a couple of wins chalked off against them.

“I’m sure, leading up to the game, players like Roy and Ashton Sims, who have played a couple hundred games in the NRL, will be informing us on some of the players and the way they play.”

Tickets for the World Club Series opening match – Warrington Wolves v St. George-Illawarra Dragons – are available from as little as £20 for adults and £10 for concessions and juniors, and are available by visiting shop.warringtonwolves.org/ and selecting ‘tickets’.