TOBY King says Warrington Wolves are treating Castleford Tigers as very dangerous opposition for them in Super League Round 23 tonight.

The Wire head to the Mend-A-Hose Jungle in third place, two points behind current front-runners Hull KR and second-placed Wigan Warriors, and know that they need to carry on winning to stay in the hunt for the League Leaders’ Shield or the second-place finish that also guarantees them a home semi-final in the play-offs.

In contrast, Castleford have only London Broncos and Hull FC below them – seven points adrift – but cannot achieve the play-offs so they have nothing to play for in terms of table position.

They have lost 15 of their 22 Super League matches so far but they did pull off shock wins against play-off chasers St Helens and Catalans Dragons prior to the four-match losing run they are currently on.

“You’ve just got to have a professional attitude because it’s such an awkward game,” said Wolves centre King, who is two games back from a spell on the sidelines with hamstring trouble.

“Sometimes you’d rather have a top-four game with a big build-up, because these are dangerous now as they’ve got nothing to lose.

“They’ll play anything they want and that’s what so’s dangerous – you can see it in London now how they’re playing as well.”

King also considers Cas to be a side showing signs of improvement.

“I feel like Cas are building something with a bigger picture ahead,” he said.

“They seem to have good young players and building together and I feel that’s showing now towards the back end.

“The team that they’re building is pretty much brand new. Hull KR started with something similar five years ago and look how good they’re doing now, though probably with a bit more backing, but with Castleford they seem to be putting in the foundations.

“For us it’s no slip-ups, because if we slip up we’re out of the top two. I think it’s that tight.

“There’s a top three now. Wigan and Hull KR do have to play each other, but that’ll mean nothing if we slip up somewhere.

“It’s always exciting when you’re chasing. You’d love to be in the top two, we’d rather be there than not, but we’re enjoying the chasing of the leaders.”

He says preparations have been going well while head coach Sam Burgess has been in Australia this week for his NRL Hall of Fame induction.

“It’s different with him not being here, but Martin Gleeson, Rich Marshall and Gaz Chambers have all been doing a good job,” said King.

“Sam’s been away for the NRL Hall of Fame, which is a mad achievement and we’ve all been congratulating him and we’ve all been buzzing him.”

Burgess has stayed in contact with his coaching team while away and returns to the UK this morning in time to be with his side at Castleford tonight.