“IT’S a difficult challenge but I think we’re capable of doing it.”

To wrap up three consecutive tests against Super League’s current power-base sides, Daryl Powell’s Warrington Wolves face perhaps the toughest of them all tonight.

St Helens – winners of the past three titles who look well on course to make that four – arrive at The Halliwell Jones Stadium intent on plunging The Wire deeper into mediocrity.

After being heavily beaten by Catalans Dragons and Wigan Warriors, optimism among the Warrington fan base for this game is not exactly high.

Warrington Guardian:

After being beaten 40-8 by Catalans Dragons last week, Warrington Wolves are looking to avoid a third straight defeat. Picture by SWPix.com

However, Powell says he can sense an excitement among the playing group to throw themselves into the competition’s greatest challenge.

Watch some of what Daryl Powell had to say to the media at yesterday's pre-match press conference here

“I think the fixture planners have given us a real treat with Catalans and St Helens straight after each other,” he said.

“After this game, we’ll have played Wigan, Catalans and St Helens – probably the three best teams in the competition at the moment.

“We know where we are but I’m excited about this game.

“We’re learning – I thought we had a real battle for 65 minutes last week and then we started to do things that were a little bit crazy at times.

“The boys worked really hard last week but we’re excited for this game – I can sense a real excitement throughout the playing group.

“We’ve just got to go and play with confidence – you know it’s always a physical challenge against St Helens and that’s an area in which we need to be better over the course of 80 minutes.

“After this game, we’re halfway through. We’ve got a week off then we can reset and look at the second half, but this game is a key game for us and I’m looking forward to seeing how we can go and attack it.”

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Despite their excellent record on The Wire’s home ground, it is difficult to remember Saints being such comfortable favourites for a victory at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Competition sponsors Betfred have Kristian Woolf’s men at odds of 2-5 for a victory that would cement their dominant-looking position atop the table as the season reaches its halfway point.

The Wire are being roundly written off, evidenced by the scathing dismissal of their chances in this one by Paul Sculthorpe – a former player for both sides.

> Click here to read what Sculthorpe has had to say about the game

However, Powell is not concerning himself with exterior opinions.

Warrington Guardian:

Wire head coach Daryl Powell. Picture by Mike Boden

“I don’t look at social media or anything like that – I’m not interested in it,” he said.

“All I’m interested in is helping young players grow at this club and helping the team to unify, grow and get better.

“It doesn’t really matter what anybody else thinks. It’s about what we think and how we can improve.

“We’re halfway through – you don’t start throwing things away at halfway through a season whether you’re written off or not.

“It’s been a tough first half of the season, but I’m genuinely excited about this game tomorrow and I’m looking forward to seeing how we go.

“We know they’ve got significant threats across the field – they’re a dangerous team, they’ve recruited well and the last three years have been phenomenal for them.

“But it’s about us performing and going challenging St Helens all across the field and having a game that puts pressure on them with and without the ball.

“In some areas, we’re getting better. There’s some positives from last week that we need to build on and improve again.

“You’ve got to be consistent for 80 minutes against St Helens.

“We’re at home, it will be buzzing and a great atmosphere.

“We’ve all got to make sure the fans go away from this feeling positive after a real tussle against the best side in the competition at the moment.

“It should get the juices of every player and every fan flowing for tomorrow night.”

While it may appear as though their progress has been serene, Saints have not been without their setbacks this year.

They have injury problems in the backs, with scrum-half Lewis Dodd out for the season with an Achilles injury while Regan Grace and Will Hopoate continued to be dogged by fitness issues.

However, with their fearsome forward pack at full strength, Powell knows his side will have their hands full

“They’re all over the place,” he said when asked about where the opposition’s strengths lie.

“They’ve got Lewis Dodd missing but apart from that, they’ve got a big, physical pack and a champion hooker in James Roby.

“Seeing him dislocate his finger last week, put it back in and put a repeat set in – what a superhuman player he’s been.

Warrington Guardian:

Powell praised St Helens hooker James Roby. Picture by SWPix.com

“They’ve got a good bench who come on and get after you.

“(Konrad) Hurrell’s a handful, (Sione) Mata’utia – that will be an interesting battle with his brother in the centre

“They’re dangerous everywhere – some of the young players they’ve brought through are just class.

“The challenge for us is to be at our best and stop them being at their best.”