PAUL Rauhihi believes he is back to peak fitness ahead of Saturday's home game against Harlequins - and has revealed he has an extra incentive to perform well this weekend.

Rauhihi is two games into a comeback from a long-term back injury and thinks he is not too far away from being able to produce his best form again.

And he is keen to reproduce the kind of performance that blew away Leeds in May - with the added spur that New Zealand coach Brian McClennan may be watching on Saturday, with the match on Sky at 6.15pm.

Although focusing his attention on doing well for Wolves, the prop is eager to earn a place in his country's Tri-Nations squad.

"I don't know what my chances are because I haven't played for so long," he said.

"But I think this weekend is probably a good chance, being a televised game, and it might be my last chance to make an impression on the selectors.

"But that's one of the things you can't think too much about, you just have to focus.

"I've been pretty happy with the two games since I came back.

"In the first game I was a little nervous but I didn't think about my back at all at Salford, so I've pretty much put that behind me.

"And I think everyone gets better each week when they come back from injury. You don't like to think that you will start off slowly but it just happens.

"I feel like I've done plenty of work in the last two games and I'm hoping that I should be pretty much at peak fitness this weekend.

"To be able to play every week like I did against Leeds is going to be a bit tough but I still feel like I'm doing my job.

"I'm hopefully trying to build up to a performance like that, whether it is this week or in the play-offs."

The club captain admits that results need to turn around quickly for Wolves to keep hold of a play-off spot, with Harlequins three points behind and leading the challenge for sixth place.

And he agrees with head coach Paul Cullen's view that their defence needs to improve after a 35-34 defeat at Salford on Friday.

He said: "We're right on the edge of the play-offs and any losses are going to make it easy for sides to overtake us.

"If we can manage to win games it doesn't matter what everyone behind you is doing but once you start losing, that's when you have to worry about that.

"We're still leaking far too many points. Our structure is all right but it's just a matter of getting the one-on-ones and technique right on certain occasions.

"The stuff we're doing at training is definitely helping."

Cullen said: "I thought we were a couple of completed sets away from kicking on against Salford.

"Our defensive effort in the opening stages of both halves was fabulous - probably our best all season.

"We lost the game by one point and put the ball on the floor eight times in the first half alone.

"If and when that is tidied up we are confident we can be a force, but that's easier said than done.

"Saturday is going to be a battle of completion rates."

Wolves v Quins.

Last meeting: Quins 30 Wolves 28, June 12, 2006. Simon Grix touched down twice with further tries coming from Logan Swann, Richie Barnett and Lee Briers, who landed four goals.

Home record versus Quins in Super League: Played 10, won 6, drawn 0, lost 4, points scored 296, points conceded 206.

Coach: Brian McDermott.

Form guide - Quins' last five games: Bradford (H) won 28-26, Salford (A) lost 34-0, Hull (H) won 18-16, St Helens (A) lost 30-24, Castleford (H) won 24-16.

Team for last match: Paul Sykes; Anthony Stewart, Matt Gafa, Tyrone Smith, Nick Bradley-Qalilawa; Henry Paul, Luke Dorn; David Mills, Chad Randall, Daniel Heckenberg, Lee Hopkins, Paul Noone, Rob Purdham. Subs: Neil Budworth, Danny Williams, Solomon Haumono, Mark Tookey.

Team news: Mark McLinden is expected to return from injury but Thomas Leuluai may have to wait for his comeback.

Links with Quins: On-loan forward Paul Noone returns to Warrington for the first time, while Rob Parker and Jon Clarke had spells in London.

Danger man: Henry Paul is starting to pull the strings in rugby league again.

Referee: Steve Ganson.

Results and fixtures.

Other Round 24 results: Castleford 4 St Helens 72, Harlequins 28 Bradford 26, Huddersfield 12 Hull 26, Leeds 18 Wigan 20, Wakefield 34 Catalans 14.

Super League Round 25 fixtures for tomorrow, Friday: Bradford v Castleford, Wakefield v Leeds (Sky 8pm), Wigan v Huddersfield. Saturday: Catalans v St Helens, Warrington v Harlequins (Sky 6.15pm). Sunday: Hull v Salford.