CHRIS Leikvoll believes previous experience will stand Wolves in good stead as they bid to handle the intense pressure of the play-offs.

Although Warrington have only been involved in the Super League play-offs once before, when they lost their opening match at Wigan two years ago, their squad is now littered with players who have been there and done it either in England or in the NRL.

Andrew Johns has won two Premierships with Newcastle, Martin Gleeson was a part of the St Helens side that won the Super League in 2002, while Leikvoll himself played in a Grand Final - albeit on the losing side - for St George-Illawarra in 1999.

The Australian prop knows from his time in the NRL just how tough the play-offs are, but he is confident Wolves can cope with them.

He said: "It's do or die now - you lose and you're out - so it always adds that little bit more pressure, but I'm sure we'll be up for it.

"I think we're capable of handling the pressure because we've got a few guys who have played semi-final football before, and it's down to how we play on the day.

"But if our defence holds up like it has done in the last few weeks I'm sure we'll go well."

And Wolves' prospects could be aided by the fact that their first play-off game against Hull will be played on home turf after they secured a top four finish at the weekend.

The Halliwell Jones Stadium was rocking for Johns' debut match against Leeds, and Leikvoll is sure there will be a similarly vibrant atmosphere to aid the team on Saturday.

"I can imagine what the atmosphere's going to be like," he said. "It was special against Leeds, and it's the first time Warrington have got in the top four in Super League.

"A home tie is what everyone wanted, but the hard work isn't done yet. We've got to put in another performance to build on the last two performances."

Those two displays against Leeds and Hull have come since Johns' arrival, and Leikvoll is not surprised at how quickly the scrum half has fitted into the team.

"He's slotted in, but he's a quality player and quality players slot in wherever they go," said the 29-year-old.

"We've been pretty solid as a team all year, but we've probably lifted our intensity in the last two games and hopefully we can do it again for the play-offs."