Wildcats v Dragons: Teams
Wakefield will attempt to end a five match losing Stobart Super League run when hosting Catalan Dragons on Sunday.
Last Updated: 23/03/12 5:56pm
Wakefield will attempt to end a five-match losing Stobart Super League run when they host Catalan Dragons on Sunday afternoon.
Richard Agar 's 11th-placed side have not won since a 32-14 opening-game triumph over new-boys Widnes but showed encouraging signs in the narrow 32-30 defeat at high-flying Warrington last time out.
The visitors, meanwhile, go into the clash on the back of a two-match winning run, the latest a 20-12 victory over Hull KR, to sit in fifth in the table.
Wildcats head coach Agar is expecting a tough test on Sunday but is looking forward to the challenge, telling his club's official website: "On their day they (the Dragons) are a very, very good side.
"When you talk about about Wigan, Warrington and Leeds as your top sides, I think along with Huddersfield they're one of the teams that can genuinely challenge them this year.
"It's good for us that we've had three or four really tough contests coming into this so hopefully we're starting to get acclimatised to playing this level of opposition and knowing what it takes to compete and be successful against them.
"That probably showed last week and we're really encouraged by the performance.
"It's a different challenge to Warrington because they play a different style. They are a very, very big, powerful and agile unit.
"We've had one look at them in a pre-season trial where they run us ragged a little bit. We know a little bit what's coming."
Collis returns
Wakefield have centre Dean Collis back after missing the defeat at Warrington with a hamstring strain while Danny Kirmond, who switched from the second row to plug the gap, is expected to play despite sustaining a badly-cut mouth against the Wolves.
The Dragons are without former Wakefield winger Damien Blanch because of illness but they have full-back Clint Greenshields and prop forward Jamal Fakir back from injury.
Centre or second rower Setaimata Sa has completed a two-match ban, while coach Trent Robinson also includes former Toulouse back-rower Antoni Maria, who is set to make his Super League debut after impressing with the reserve team.
Wildcats: Mathers, Fox, Collis, Mellars, Cockayne, John, Wood, Wilkes, Walshaw, Raleigh, Lauitiiti, Southern, Washbrook, Aiton , Johnson, Kirmond, Amor, Smith, Trout.
Dragons: Greenshields, Pryce, Sa, Bosc, Dureau, Ferriol, Casty, Mounis, Raguin, Baile, Pelissier, Millard, Simon, Fakir, Paea, Baitieri, Duport, Fisher, Maria.