Back-to-back fixtures against two trophy-winning teams are a chance for Wakefield Trinity to prove their quality, coach Daryl Powell says.

Trinity play host to last year’s treble winners Hull KR tomorrow (Saturday), followed six days later by the visit of Wigan Warriors who beat the Robins at Wembley last weekend. Wakefield began Betfred Super League round 13 in fifth place on the table, separating their next two opponents and Powell – whose club this week announced the signing of NRL star Emre Guler on a three-year deal beginning next season – insisted: “I think it’s a great opportunity for us to show how good we can be.”

He said: “I think we’re in a great place, exactly where we want to be and this is a time for us to put our foot down over the next couple of weeks. Hull KR proved last year exactly what they are, the best team in the comp, so that should get you mentally exactly where you need to be and that’s what I am expecting.”

Rovers are licking their wounds from the 40-10 Challenge Cup final drubbing by Wigan and will be without ex-Trinity man Dean Hadley because of a concussion, but Powell is more focused on what he and his team can control than how their opponents will react to such a shattering loss. “I think we can't really worry too much about them,” he stressed.

England winger Tom Johnstone has a "strong chance" of making his comeback from injury when Wakefield Trinity play host to Hull KR on Saturday. Picture by John Clifton/SWpix.com.

placeholder image — England winger Tom Johnstone has a "strong chance" of making his comeback from injury when Wakefield Trinity play host to Hull KR on Saturday. Picture by John Clifton/SWpix.com.

“It’s just us and how we go about the game. We have had a week off from playing and players have had a little bit of time freshening up. I think we just need to be bang at it and really get after Hull KR.

“Nothing happens on its own - it’s all about the way you play the game. Ultimately it’s about us and how we play and making sure we do what we need to do to win this game, which we know will be a tough challenge. I don’t think a team like Hull KR rolls over at any point, but we’ve got to make sure we play the game we want to play.”

England winger Tom Johnstone is included in Trinity’s initial squad after almost two months on the sidelines with an Achilles injury and Powell confirmed there is “a strong chance” he will play. He said: “He has trained all week and looks sharp. I’m looking forward to seeing him on the field again.”

Wakefield Trinity's Max Jowitt will make his return from injury in a reserves game at Warrington Wolves on Saturday. Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com.

Another long-term casualty, full-back Max Jowitt, will also return tomorrow, in a reserves game at Warrington Wolves. Powell explained: “He is fit, he just needs some game time. I think that’s the case with a couple of our players. We’ve got a couple of tough reserve games - Warrington then Wigan next week - so we’ll be using those to get players ready.”

Wakefield Trinity: from Pratt, Scott, Hall, Johnstone, Trueman, Lino, McMeeken, Smoothy, Rodwell, Nikotemo, Storton, Tevaga, Pitts, Hamlin-Uele, Faatili, Smith, Vagana, Sinfield, Myers, Rourke, Lolesio.

Hull KR: from Davies, Hiku, Gildart, Burgess, Lewis, May, Sue, Litten, Amone, Hadley, Batchelor, Minchella, Broadbent, Luckley, Whitbread, Martin, Lawton, Dezaria, Booth, Leyland. Hampshire, Pangai Jr.

Referee: Aaron Moore (Wigan). Kick-off: Saturday, 4.30pm.