Wellens preparing for Wire test despite their form

St Helens boss Paul Wellens has led his side to five wins from six games in all competitions so far this term

St Helens boss Paul Wellens says he is preparing his side for Warrington Wolves to be "at their best" despite their recent dip in form.

Wellens' side take on the Wire on Friday with their opponents losing their most recent two Super League games.

Their 16-30 defeat by Wakefield earlier in March came following a tight turnaround in the aftermath of their chastening defeat by Wigan Warriors in Las Vegas.

"The trip to Vegas, while it was a great trip and a fantastic occasion to be part of - we experienced it when we went to Australia for the the World Club Challenge in 2023 - it can hurt you for a few weeks after and you can lack energy," Wellens told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"You see that in a couple of the teams that have played there but good sides and good players very quickly turn the corner. We're obviously preparing for Warrington to be at their best."

Friday's fixture is the first of three fixtures between St Helens and Warrington that will take place in the next month.

Two of those are league fixtures while the pair will also meet in the Challenge Cup quarter-final after being drawn together in this week's draw for the last eight.

"Having experience winning the Challenge Cup in the past, you have to beat good teams along the way and that's still the challenge for us," Wellens added.

"Circumstances can often work out like that. It's a great fixture and a real derby atmosphere to those games now.

"We'll get to play them three times in 30 days so we're looking forward to the challenge. Obviously there are other games in between those but the Warrington game is always a game we look forward to."