Wakefield will use Catalans’ hectic schedule to their advantage, hopes Chester

Wakefield head coach Chris Chester insists his side will be looking to use Catalans’ intense fixture schedule to their advantage when they travel to Perpignan on Sunday.

The game will be the Dragons’ third in 10 days, after they backed up last Friday’s loss away at Warrington with a win over a young Leeds side at Headingley on Wednesday.

The French club have used relatively the same squad in those matches, and Chester says Trinity are aiming to make the most of their opponents’ fatigue.

“We go there as underdogs but they’re a team that’s to play their third game in 10 days,” he said. “It’s not ideal and there’ll be a lot of tired bodies.

“It’s important we play a completion game with them and look to tire them out towards the end of the half.

“There were lots of positive signs last week (against Wigan). I thought we were very physical and we can take a lot from last week’s performance and what Adrian Lam had to say after (in) the fact that it was the hardest game they’ve had since lockdown.

“That’s kind of a blueprint now, a benchmark where we need to be consistent week-in, week-out.

“We’ll keep pretty much the same 17 for this week, which is probably the first time since lockdown we’ve been able to do that.

“So there’s certainly some building blocks there to work from and we’re looking for another positive performance this week.”

The game is unique for Wakefield in the fact that it will be the first time since March where they will play in front of a crowd.

Catalans are currently the only Super League club able to accommodate fans due to French Government guidelines, and Chester says it will be good to feel a sense of normality.

He added: “It’s something new. It’s something we’ve not been used to over the past few months. It will be nice to have some kind of atmosphere.

“It’s always hostile anyway when you go to Catalans. They’re in your face, they’re on your back and the referee’s back if things don’t go well.

“It’s something we’ve missed here at Belle Vue and everybody else has as well. So it’s always nice to play in front of some fans.”