Two teams with wildly different trajectories will meet on Saturday night.

Warrington Wolves, who have won six of their past seven games, take on St Helens, who have lost four of their past seven games, in the Super League playoffs at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Saints are in a period of transition after a tough season. They scrapped into the top six, losing to Leigh in the final round of the regular campaign, and are low on form and confidence. There fans have grown restless and a number of key players will depart the club over the next month, including Tommy Makinson, Sione Matu’utia and Lewis Dodd.

It’s the end of an era.

With the arrivals of Kyle Feldt, Tristan Sailor and Lewis Murphy, as well as Lee Briers in the backroom staff, the Red V will be an entirely different proposition in 2025. But 2024 has largely been one of inconsistency, of struggle and disappointment.

The leadership and experience of James Roby and Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook has been missed. Injuries and suspensions have bitten hard. Questions have been asked over the club’s ageing roster and recruitment, especially Waqa Blake, and coach Paul Wellens has been under the microscope.

But for Warrington it has been the reverse.

Sam Burgess’ first year in charge has seen the Wolves shoot up the table. He has changed the club’s mentality and made their much stronger mentally. They made it to Wembley, although they couldn’t overcome Wigan, and finished third in the regular season.

The Wire have both the best attack and the best defence in Super League, scoring more points and conceding less points than even Wigan and Hull KR. They are scoring on average 27.4 points per game and only giving away 11.8 points at the other end.

Play-Off Eliminator, 2023 📅
James Roby's final home game for @Saints1890 👏@Saints1890 came out on top last season and they meet @WarringtonRLFC in another Eliminator on Saturday 👀 pic.twitter.com/S9e9vSUgXV

— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) September 23, 2024

They also come into this semi-final with a series of big wins and big scores under their belt. On Friday they blasted London 54-0 and then Huddersfield 66-0 the week before that. Crucially, they defeated St Helens just three weeks ago 16-2, giving them some more confidence ahead of their rematch.

These two clubs have already met three times this season, the first coming in April in the Challenge Cup. On that day the Wolves bashed Saints 31-8 at the Totally Wicked Stadium, a stunning result that shocked many across the competition.

Warrington backed it up in July with a 24-10 result over St Helens. Three matches in 2024 between the two teams, three victories to the Wire.

While Saints’ signings and players have been doubted, the Wolves’ have impressed.

Rodrick Tai has been a beast in the centres and, when fit, Lachlan Fitzgibbon has caught the eye. Sam Powell and Zane Musgrove have added steel to the pack and a number of youngsters have shone like Aaron Lindop, Matty Nicholson, Cai Taylor-Wray and Max Wood.

Matt Dufty, Danny Walker and Matty Ashton have all been named in this year’s Dream Team, and rightly so. All have been brilliant this season.

Paul Vaughan was unlucky to miss out on the honour, such has been his excellent form, while George Williams, Toby King and James Harrison have also been excellent. With the late season recruitment of hard-nosed forwards in Luke Yates and John Bateman, Warrington are primed for the finals.

At home and on a roll, will it be the Wolves howling on this Saturday or will an upset be on the cards as the Saints go marching in?