PAUL Cullen has challenged his players to show they can beat Hull KR without Lee Briers and Chris Bridge this year.

Briers pulled out through injury on the day of Wolves' Challenge Cup defeat to Rovers last June and, although Bridge played, he was struggling for fitness after an ankle operation.

Wolves suffered as a result but, if both half backs are ruled out on Sunday, Cullen wants his troops to put on a better display.

And the Wolves boss signalled the need for a no-frills approach against a side he has compared to Harlequins for their methodical approach to the game.

"We've been there before and we've got to make sure it's not déjà vu," said Cullen, who has been working hard in training to prepare Jon Clarke and Vinnie Anderson for likely half-back roles this weekend.

"Don't forget we were 10-0 up after 10 minutes in the Challenge Cup. We didn't start slowly, we simply had guys that started to push passes and turn the ball over.

"What we won't be doing is asking Jon Clarke and Vinnie Anderson to play the same game as Lee Briers and Chris Bridge. We don't expect that and no-one else should.

"Hull KR are the completion kings of Super League so far according to the statistics.

"What we don't want to do with irregular half backs is attempt to throw the ball all over the place and try to recreate the Lee Briers phenomenon or Chris Bridge's dynamic movement.

"What we've got to do is make sure we compete with them in the completion stakes.

"The process will be to get as many senior players on the field as we possibly can, to simplify our go forward and eradicate cheap handovers of ball.

"That has been our curse in all five games this season. We have played well enough in three of those games to accommodate it but we couldn't against Bradford and we certainly couldn't against St Helens."

Wolves will face Hull KR at home twice in three weeks after being handed a rematch with Justin Morgan's Robins in the fourth round of the Carnegie Challenge Cup, with the game to be shown live on the BBC on Saturday, March 31, at 2.30pm.

But this weekend Cullen may also be without Paul Wood, who suffered a recurrence of an old shoulder injury but is rated as having a better chance of playing than Briers or Bridge.

Richie Barnett is fit to return from an ankle injury but is likely to be competing for a bench spot along with Andy Bracek and Ben Harrison, who have both now returned from their loan spells at Widnes.

Michael Sullivan is a potential starter in place of Clarke at hooker, with Cullen opting to keep the Australian in his favoured role rather than moving him to half back again.

Paul Rauhihi is expected to be captain if Briers is absent.

Warrington, who have conceded 108 points in their first three games at The Halliwell Jones Stadium this season, have won their last nine home matches against Hull KR.