FIRST and foremost, Warrington Wolves can expect a bruising physical battle when Catalans Dragons come calling on Saturday.

However, the message from Paul Vaughan is a simple one – bring it on.

The Australian will be front and centre to lead the Wire effort up front against a monstrous Dragons pack, and that battle will be key to deciding who wins the second meeting between the two already this year.

What happened in the first, Vaughan says, is a motivating factor for the Warrington squad – the 16-10 Round One loss in Perpignan is the only blemish on their record to date and it is one they are desperate to put right.

“It was disappointing that we lost over there in Round One. We’d prepared really well but the game didn’t go our way,” he said.

“We’re a different team to what we were then, so everyone’s excited to get out there and give it another crack.

“Catalans are a great team with a lot of dangerous players but for us, it’s exciting. You want to play the best teams and they’ve been one of those for a good few years now.

“There’s a feeling among the boys that this is a big game.

“It’s one we’ve been working towards for a while – we’ve broken down the first block of four or five games and now, the next one is about to start so we want to build on some good performances.”

It is not just in the forwards that Wire can expect physicality, with the Dragons carrying plenty of size and power in the outside backs as well as devastating speed.

And Vaughan says stopping the back five from getting the visitors onto the front foot – an area in which they perhaps fell down in Perpignan – will be key at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

“We’ve been focussing a lot on the defensive side and some kick chase work,” he said.

“We’ve had a bit of a look at some clips from Round One and we’ve improved a fair bit on what we showed then.

“We just want to put that out on the paddock this week and see how we go.

“They’re pretty impressive up front but they’re strong all over the field, so it’s a good battle.

“Personally, that’s what I crave – I want us to go up against those big packs to see where we’re at.

“It’s only early doors – we want to get them back for Round One but it’s more of a yardage stick for us to see how we’re travelling.”