WHILE Warrington Wolves’ recent record against play-off opponents St Helens makes for pretty grim reading, there is some reason for encouragement in the record books.

The Wire visit the Totally Wicked Stadium in Super League’s eliminator round on Saturday, with the winner advancing to the semi-finals while ending the campaign of the loser.

And in the heat of straight knockout battle, Warrington have had the edge over their neighbours of late.

Indeed, the last five “do or die” clashes between the two sides have all ended in Wire victories, including some against-all-odds triumphs.

Among the most recent examples are the 2019 Challenge Cup Final, when Warrington stunned a heavily favoured Saints side 18-4 to lift the trophy at Wembley, and the previous year’s Super League semi-final as Steve Price’s side bested Saints, who had romped to that year’s League Leader’s Shield, at the Totally Wicked Stadium.

The most recent knockout fixture between the two was the 2020 Challenge Cup quarter final, which Wire won 20-18 behind closed doors at Salford’s AJ Bell Stadium.

The run also includes the 2016 Super League semi-final at The Halliwell Jones Stadium – an 18-10 Wolves win – and the 2012 equivalent at the then Langtree Park, which Wire won 36-18 to reach their first ever summer era Grand Final.

Indeed, you have to go all the way back to 2008 for the last St Helens victory in a knockout fixture against Warrington – a 40-34 triumph at Knowsley Road in the fifth round of that year’s Challenge Cup.