CHALLENGE Cup semi finalist Jerome Guisset is banking on the best fans in Super League to help steer pioneering Catalans Dragons to a new level.

Former Wolves forward Guisset is a key man in the Perpignan club's bid to defeat Warrington's fiercest rivals Wigan Warriors in Sunday's semi final at The Halliwell Jones Stadium, thus becoming the first French side to reach the showpiece Challenge Cup Final.

The 28-year-old, who tasted defeat in three semi finals with Warrington and has hinted he would like another stint with Wolves, strongly believes neutral supporters could see Les Catalans give the French game a healthy boost by pulling off a major upset against his other former British club, Wigan.

Guisset, who made 137 appearances for Warrington between 2000 and 2004 before spending a year with Wigan, said: "If any Warrington supporter who used to support me could put a Catalans cap on for just 80 minutes it would be a massive bonus for us.

"The noise from the Warrington supporters in those days of full houses at Wilderspool Stadium are my favourite memories from my days with Warrington. It really works as a 14th man.

"There are two charter planes of Catalans fans coming over and there'll be others who make their own way, so I'm hoping there'll be between 500 and 1,000 Catalans supporters making the journey.

"That's a good contingent when you consider the 1,500-mile distance but if we could get another 500 to 1,000 Warrington supporters joining them I think it would be a fantastic help to the team.

"I still say to everyone now that the Warrington fans are the best in Super League, they're proving that when they come over to Perpignan in high numbers showing their commitment to the club.

"It's obviously great to have support like that.

"For Catalans home matches we're averaging crowds of around 8,300 this year which is quite good for a club that is only in its second year.

"With the support of the fans, winning against Wigan and reaching the final at Wembley next month will lift us to another level.

"It would raise our profile in France, where we still do not have the full media support for what we're doing.

"We've lost to Wigan twice this year but we're working very hard to make it third time lucky for us.

"We've definitely got talent in our team and I think we can beat anyone on our day, as we've proved throughout the season.

"A win against Wigan now would definitely raise the profile of the club in France and that would be a massive boost for us and for the game in general."

Catalans' continuing growth as the only French club in Super League is crucial in the game's aim to spread across Europe at international level.

Guisset, as captain of the French national side, is well aware of that and said: "Our level of play is improving and we have some good young kids coming through.

"It helps the level of play for everyone at Catalans Dragons by playing in such a good competition as Super League because all the players can become used to the levels expected, which will make them perform better on the international stage."

Guisset enjoys the respect he receives from the up-and-coming youngsters at Catalans Dragons after his achievements in the game outside of France with Warrington and initially Canberra Raiders in Australia.

But he enjoyed his time with Warrington so much that he would be happy to leave his hometown club when his contract expires in 2008 for another stint with Wolves.

He said: "My wife is from Warrington, all my wife's family live there and will be at the game on Sunday, I've still got a home there and I still spend time there.

"I talk about Warrington every day to my wife.

"I'm not ruling out the question of actually one day returning to play for Warrington if I've still got something in my legs.

"I've only got one more year at the Catalans and if everything goes well I'd like to stay with them.

"But my wife would be glad about a return to Warrington and with the times we've had there there's no way I could say no to them."