KEY POINTS:
Jerome Ropati is looking forward to one of the toughest tests in the National Rugby League (NRL) when his in-form New Zealand Warriors side play St George Illawarra on Sunday.
Vastly improved defence has seen the Warriors win six of their last seven NRL matches, beating the high-flying Melbourne Storm, Brisbane Broncos and Cronulla Sharks at home along the way.
They will need all of those defensive skills away from home to beat the Dragons in Wollongong, a venue where they have yet to win.
The Dragons are particularly strong in the centres, with Matt Cooper and Mark Gasnier in their ranks, and Ropati faces the daunting task of marking Gasnier.
"I'm pretty excited. I won't say too much just in case I jinx myself, but it's going to be a challenge," he said.
"I'm going to have to probably pull out one of my best defensive games against him because of his attacking prowess."
Ropati missed a number of games in the first half of the season due to ankle and hamstring injuries, but he has played a vital part in a defence which has improved immeasurably in the second half of the season.
The defence was put to the test last weekend, holding the Sharks scoreless in a vital third quarter of the match despite giving them plenty of turnover ball.
"They coughed up the ball due to the pressure our defence put on them," Ropati said.
"We still have to work in that area - we're maybe defending a bit too much, maybe coughing up too much ball.
"We're having to really be desperate on defence when we can ease the pressure a bit by holding on to the ball and getting down their end.
"But at the moment we're pretty confident that any time we do make a mistake or when it comes time to step up and defend our line, we're right there."
With three weeks of the regular season to go the Dragons and the Warriors are placed seventh and eighth respectively.
With eight teams only going to the playoffs and five teams behind them within two points, a win is vital for both teams.
But nearly every game has been a must-win one for the Warriors since July, something Ropati and coach Ivan Cleary thinks will help them in Wollongong.
"They've got a pretty good side right across the park and they had a good win against the Broncos up there last week," Cleary said.
"That's never an easy game, so they'll be pretty confident and buoyed by that now they're going home.
"We're certainly going to be up against it but our biggest concern is making sure we get our own game on and carry on from what we've built recently, and if we do that I think we're a good chance."
Possibly the biggest challenge for the Warriors will be replicating their strong form in wet, cold conditions at home in warmer, drier conditions in Australia.
"Obviously we've played in some fairly average weather conditions over here the last few games, but certainly if it's dry it's not going to hurt us too much," Cleary said.
"We're pretty well off in terms of speed, but so are the Dragons. We can't control the weather but whatever it's like we'll be ready."
- NZPA
