Warrington Wolves v Castleford Tigers - let's get this job done first before thinking about Hull FC says Powell

Tigers take on Warrington Wolves in Betfred Super League on Thursday and return to St Helens’ TW Stadium three days later for a Coral Challenge Cup sixth round tie against Hull.

Both games are crucial in Tigers’ season, but with Castleford sitting sixth in the table, Powell reckons they have to forget about Sunday and put all their attention on the leaguye clash.

“You just focus on the first game and not even consider the second,” Powell insisted.

“Obviously as a coaching staff we are thinking about it [Sunday], but from a players’ perspective, just get this first job looked after.

“It is a really important game for us – if you look at the top-four and where we are, this game is key.

“Don’t worry about anything else, just get after this game and make sure we start building some consistency.

“We haven’t quite done that yet, either in games or from game to game.

“We’ll get on with this game and not think about anything that’s ahead of us, because you can’t play two games at once.”

Warrington are on a six-game winning run.

They are still without seven players who are isolating after being identified on track and trace following their recent victory over Wakefield Trinity, but stunned Hull with a below-strength side last week.

“We have played against them in the past and won games with 11 players missing,” Powell recalled.

“You can’t take anything for granted, they have still got a really good team and they did a very good job on Hull.

“We know they will come full of enthusiasm and they have high-quality players in there, but I just think it’s really just a matter of concentrating on ourselves.

“We have got to go and play our game, not worry about what they are going to do and just go and take the game by the scruff of the neck.”

Tigers picked up their first points following the coronavirus shutdown when they hit back from 18-0 down after just 11 minutes to beat Salford Red Devils 37-30 last Thursday.

“We had to work hard to get ourselves back,” Powell said. “We did that really well.

“It hasn’t given us any momentum, because one game doesn’t, but it gives you a foundation to build from.

“If we win this game we are within two points of Warrington and things look a little bit different than they did a few weeks ago.

“That’s why this game is so important for us.”

Powell will select from the 17 players who beat Salford, plus Jacques O’Neill, Tyla Hepi, Lewis Peachey and James Clare who has recovered from a neck injury.

Warrington’s squad includes last week’s side, plus Ben Murdoch-Masila, Keenan Brand, Josh Thewlis and Eribe Doro.

Castleford Tigers: from Olpherts, Mata’utia, Shenton, Richardson, Watts, McShane, Millington, Holmes, McMeeken, Milner, Massey, Griffin, Foster, Moors, Clare, O’Neill, Hepi, Eden, Turner, Peachey, O’Brien.

Warrington Wolves: from Ashton, Austin, Brand, Charnley, D Clark, Cooper, Currie, Doro, Gelling, Johnson, King, Latu, Lineham, Longstaff, Mamo, Murdoch-Masila, Patton, Ratchford, Robson, Thewlis, Walker.

Referee: Robert Hicks (Oldham).

Kick-off: Thursday, 8.15pm, at TW Stadium, St Helens.