Sculthorpe hoping to face Wolves

3:32pm Wednesday 7th May 2008

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PAUL Sculthorpe is looking to emerge from the St Helens treatment room once again in time to face Warrington Wolves in the televised fifth round of the Carnegie Challenge Cup on Saturday.

The 30-year-old international back row forward has been sidelined with a shoulder problem sustained after returning from the latest of a sickening list of career-juddering knee injuries that have plagued the Saint super star during the last three years.

And he has every incentive to complete his rehabilitation in time because he's anxious to get his hands on Rugby League's world famous Carnegie Challenge Cup once again.

Former Great Britain skipper Sculthorpe says that his St Helens team-mates have set their hearts on retaining the silverware they won when they beat French engage Super League club Catalans Dragons when the Challenge Cup Final returned to its spiritual home, Wembley, in 2007 after eight years away in temporary homes all round Britain.

"Make no mistake the Carnegie Challenge Cup has a special place in every player's heart," says Sculthorpe. "It has a buzz that makes the tournament so special and we're like the rest of the players whose clubs are still in the competition - we want to win it!"

While Sculthorpe's match preparation has been launched from the Saints treatment room his team-mates warmed up for the task by putting their arch rivals Wigan Warriors to the sword in the engage Super League 'Magic Weekend' in at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff last Sunday.

Their 57-16 win over the Warriors was satisfying for the Saints not only because it gave their fans the all important latest set of local 'bragging' rights but it also indicated that Saints are still capable of delivering the kind of form that made them the 'team to beat' during the previous three seasons.

Not that Sculthorpe, who is now in his testimonial season at Saints, is likely to presume anything on the showing of just one game. He is too professional to accept that presumption.

"I'm just keen to start playing again," he said. "The latest injury problem wasn't as bad as we first feared but the recovery period is just as frustrating because it means I'm missing even more game time.

"We won't be going into this Fifth Round tie expecting anything other than a tough time from Warrington.

"They're a quality team with quality players all through the side so we'll be preparing for a tough, demanding encounter".

Warrington go into this terrestrial televised encounter with the Saints - they lost out 30-22 to St Helens in a league game that was televised on satellite TV last month - with the encouragement of a 'Magic Weekend' win over Huddersfield Giants under their belts.

"That will have encouraged Warrington. But they too will know that this is a Cup tie so anything can, and probably will, happen in this kind of sudden-death game.

"The boys played well against Wigan but that won't mean a thing when the whistle goes for the first time on Saturday".