Stefan Ratchford admits Warrington's Super League table-topping clash with Wigan on Thursday could be pivotal in the race for the league leaders' shield.
The two clubs are locked on the same number of points just past the halfway point of the regular season and Ratchford sees the visit of the Warriors - and with it the chance to complete a quick-fire double - as a glorious opportunity to lay down a marker.
"It's going to be a real tough game, it always is regardless of the positions in the table but this is a top-of-the-table clash and, if we can get two points ahead of them and then pick up some more wins in the next few weeks it puts you in a good position for the rest of the year," Ratchford said.
The Wolves made a statement with their 28-16 win at the DW Stadium at the start of the month but then suffered back-to-back defeats at the hands of St Helens and Huddersfield.
They returned to winning ways at Widnes last week and Ratchford concedes they are still striving for consistency.
"We performed quite well at Wigan but we don't want to be a team that performs one week and then drops off the week after," he said. "We want to be consistent in our performances.
"At Huddersfield we were way off the levels we expect of ourselves so at Widnes it was about getting back to that. I think we did that quite well but we are going to have to play at another level to get another victory against Wigan."
Thursday's game will be Shaun Wane's 150th as head coach of the Warriors, one more than he achieved as a player with his hometown club, but he is more interested in his team's prospects than any individual milestone and is anticipating another difficult test.
"They've got some very good players and they're playing well," he said. "They've done well with injuries and have had the same team out a lot this year.
"They're playing a good brand of rugby league so it's got the makings of a great game."
Wigan have been decimated by injuries while a flu virus was also a contributory factor in their 62-0 thrashing by Wakefield and Richard Agar is full of admiration for their ability to sustain a tilt for the top.
"I think Wigan are doing remarkably well at the moment," said Warrington's assistant coach.
"You always expect them to be right up there when the whips are cracking but the amount of injuries and disruption they've had would have tested the very best and it's a real testament to the depth and strength of their club that they are where they are, with a chance to go top.
"They're up there despite having so many influential changes and missing the spine of the team altered on a fairly consistent basis.
"It's a really big game. Both teams are sat on equal points on the ladder so there's a lot riding on it."
Wigan have received some respite from their injury crisis with stand-off George Williams set to return from a two-month absence to line up against Ratchford, who rates the England international.
"He's a real good player is George," said Ratchford. "He's a special talent. He has a lot of speed and he creates a lot for them.
"He's been missing for a long time so if he's back he'll be a big boost for them."
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