IT will take Warrington Wolves’ best performance of 2021 to date to leave Perpignan victorious

That is the view of head coach Steve Price, who is preparing his side to take on unbeaten Catalans Dragons this afternoon.

The Frenchmen have won all three of their Super League matches so far this season as well as progressing to the Challenge Cup quarter-finals, where they will face The Wire on May 7.

Before then, though, they welcome Warrington to the Stade Gilbert Brutus for the first time since August 2019.

Having ended Hull FC’s perfect start to the new campaign last time out, Price is under no illusions as to how strong his side need to be in order to do the same to Steve McNamara’s men.

He also believes his side will come up against “the best player in the game at the moment” in the shape of Dragons full-back Sam Tomkins, who currently leads the Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel standings.

“You could say that,” he said when asked if only their very best display of the season so far would suffice.

“I thought we showed some really good steps forward in last week’s game from where we were but there’s still areas we need to tidy up.

“They’re playing some really good football of late.

“I feel Sam (Tomkins) is the best player in the game at the moment at the back. He is a really big threat.

“The big boys are doing a good job in the middle third and their style of footy is quite threatening.

“We’re going to have to be at our best but I’m confident with our players and in our own game.”

The Wire have no fresh injury or availability concerns ahead of the fixture, with winger Tom Lineham serving the second game of a three-match ban.

Australian legend Greg Inglis is still not ready to make his debut and will not be on the flight to France.

> Here's what Steve Price had to say about when Greg Inglis will be ready to play for Warrington Wolves

This will be the first time Warrington have travelled to Perpignan since the Covid-19 pandemic began.

As usual, they will fly into and out of France on the day of the game but will be subject to PCR tests before departure and upon arrival back in England.

Under government rules, they will also have to quarantine for five days upon return – their release is dependent on them passing a further PCR test – but they will be allowed to train together during that time.

Despite those rules and Covid rates being on the rise in France, Price insists he has no issues taking his players across the English Channel.

“The protocols the game have set up and the government guidelines around it, we have no issues,” he said.

“We have strict Covid policies in place here and are doing three testing days a week.

“There’s a lot of safety around us as individuals and as a team.

“We’re just grateful to be able to keep playing the game we love, to be honest.”