St Helens v Catalans Dragons: Super League preview
Last Updated: 14/04/16 6:56pm
Catalans Dragons coach Laurent Frayssinous is staying grounded as his team bid to hit the Super League summit for the first time when they face St Helens at Langtree Park on Thursday night
The buoyant French outfit were outside the top eight last April but they will draw level with First Utility Super League leaders Warrington if they can complete a sixth straight win in the competition.
"We don't look at where we are in the table. We want to perform every week and that's our goal, to be a better team week in, week out," said Frayssinous.
"Obviously we are in a good place but it will be a very tough challenge to play against Saints, especially in the UK."
Frayssinous believes the Dragons have discovered the formula that has enabled them to shed their notoriously shaky away form.
"We've spent a lot of time with the boys, especially in pre-season, talking about what we need to do to improve away and at the moment it's working well for us," he said.
"The club invested a lot in a private jet and the preparation during the week has been changed, so there's plenty of small details but all the players have worked hard on it."
The loss of Eloi Pelissier to a two-match ban, allied to an injury to Paul Aiton, has left the Dragons without a specialist hooker but the return from injury of Todd Carney, captain Rémi Casty and Justin Horo means he is otherwise able to select from full strength squad.
St Helens are currently mid-table in sixth, but head into Thursday's game off the back of a 25-22 victory over Super League leaders Warrington. Head Coach Keiron Cunningham is well aware of the Dragons form and threats.
"They're going really good," Cunningham said. "I thought they would have done that from the start with the way they signed.
"They've spent a lot of money this year on some real good quality players. They're on the crest of a wave at the minute. It's going to be a tough game but we're very confident."
Cunningham welcomes back experienced prop Lama Tasi but with multiple injuries will still be relying on the club's promising youngsters to deliver in Round 11.
"We've still seven or eight on the sidelines so it's still not a great situation to be in but the kids did us proud," said Cunningham.
"Anybody that strings a few games together at the minute are shooting up the table. As you saw at the weekend, it seems like everybody is beating everybody. Your so-called top four are non-existent any more. It's the top 12."
St Helens: Kyle Amor, Jack Ashworth, Ricky Bailey, Matty Dawson, Theo Fages, Joe Greenwood, Morgan Knowles, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Shannon McDonnell, Jack Owens, Greg Richards, James Roby, Andre Savelio, Jake Spedding, Lama Tasi, Jordan Turner, Alex Walmsley, Luke Walsh, Jon Wilkin
Catalan Dragons: Louis Anderson, Jason Baitieri, Thomas Bosc, Julian Bousquet, Jodie Broughton, Todd Carney, Rémi Casty, Alrix Da Costa, Vincent Duport, Olivier Elima, Tony Gigot, Justin Horo, Krisnan Inu, Willie Mason, Gregory Mounis, Richie Myler, Pat Richards, Glenn Stewart, Dave Taylor
Watch Saints take on the Dragons from 7.30pm on Thursday on Sky Sports 2. Watch the action for £6.99 with a NOW TV day pass.