Red hot defence

Coaches and players have spent the week since the mauling at Bradford focused on repairing weaknesses that reappeared following the last win against Wigan.

Wolves' assistant coach Paul Darbyshire said: "Everyone was disappointed with what happened at Bradford.

"The improvements we had been making in our defence had been noticeable and culminated in that good win against Wigan.

"But after the week off for the Challenge Cup semi finals we dropped off in that department at Bradford and it has cost us.

"So that's what we have been focusing on this week - what we did against Bradford in comparison to what we did against Wigan and obviously it sticks out like a sore thumb.

"We're looking to rectify that this week because we're going to have to against a Salford side who are performing very well."

Half backs Luke Robinson and Andrew Dunemann, as well as hooker Malcolm Alker, are running hot and making Salford click and so Wolves will have to shut them down while aiming to end their worst run of away form - seven defeats - since 1997.

Wolves, with only bumps and bruises to report from Odsal and prop Paul Rauhihi coming through his first game for three months with a clean bill of health, will also need to be at their best in attack.

Karl Harrison's team have the second best defence in Super League, nilling Harlequins at the weekend and restricting Wolves to just two tries in their two wins at The Halliwell Jones Stadium earlier this season.

Darbyshire said: "To break Salford down, first of all we need to control the ball. Our completion rate was very poor in the first 20 minutes at Bradford and against Salford we need to match them blow for blow in the opening quarter in terms of completion rates.

"That would mean we would be keeping the ball off them, making them defend and tiring them out.

"As well as that, our defence will need to be spot on. We will need to be aggressive with our defence and dominate some of their big players because Gareth Haggerty, Sean Rutgerson and Andy Coley have been playing very well.

"We've got to dominate those players before we take the game to the next level and expand our attack, looking to exploit their weaknesses."

Both teams will be going into the game, which kicks off at 8pm, spurred on by the thought that fourth place may not be beyond them this season.

Bradford, currently eight points ahead of both Wolves and Salford with five fixtures to go, have a case to answer with alleged breaches of the game's salary cap rules in 2005 and are due a hearing at some point over the next week or so.

Wigan were in a similar position earlier this week and were docked two points and fined £50,000 after Monday's hearing.

* Rob Parker has had an operation to trim his cartilage after breaking down in training ahead of the Bradford game. His recovery time should be a few weeks'.

* Wolves' match at home to Harlequins on August 20 has been brought forward to Saturday, August 19 at 6.15pm and will be shown live by Sky.

Statistical preview.

City Reds v Wolves.

Last meeting: Wolves 6 City Reds 22, April 14, 2006. Henry Fa'afili scored Wolves' only try, with Paul Noone goaling once. Away record versus City Reds in Super League: Played 11, won 5, drawn 0, lost 6, points scored 240, points conceded 278. Coach: Karl Harrison. Form guide - City Reds' last five games: Harlequins (H) won 34-0, Catalans (A) lost 26-6, Wigan (A) lost 20-12, Hull (H) lost 24-20, Bradford (H) won 17-16. Team for last match: Karl Fitzpatrick; David Hodgson, Kevin McGuinness, Aaron Moule, Junior Langi; Andrew Dunemann, Luke Robinson; Sean Rutgerson, Malcolm Alker, Danny Lima, Andy Coley, Stuart Littler, Chris Charles. Subs: Paul Highton, Gareth Haggerty, David Gower, John Wilshere. Team news: Kevin McGuinness has been left out of Salford's 20-man squad, with Stuart Littler a likely candidate to switch to centre. Links with City Reds: Wolves prop Danny Lima is on loan at Salford for the rest of the season, while John Wilshere and Ian Sibbit are former Wolves players. Mike Wainwright and Stuart Reardon had spells at The Willows. Danger man: David Hodgson's form has earned him a place in the Great Britain squad. Referee: N Price.