WIDNES Vikings can take heart from their strong performance at champions St Helens when they travel to neighbours Warrington on Sunday.

Denis Betts' men have yet to win on their travels this season - but that statistic gives a misleading picture of their away performances so far.

Last Friday they were level at the break and were still well in the fight until late in the game when two late Saints tries in the last eight minutes gave the score a lop-sided look.

Although Wolves will be in buoyant mood after toppling league leaders Leeds on their own midden, Vikings will not be over-awed having defeated them on Maundy Thursday.

And they have received a fitness boost with Danny Tickle, Chris Clarkson, Patrick Ah Van and Paddy Flynn all back in contention for the trip to The Halliwell Jones.

Betts is keen that chatter about Vikings' performances on the road are put into perspective.

He said: "People talk about out away form but we went to St Helens with a lot of energy and purpose because we knew they would be hurting from last week's performance and would want to put it right at home.

"There was lots of energy, lots of enthusiasm and some really good shapes in attack and in defence we were really solid.

"I am well aware of the press's perception of away form. There are only two sides doing well away from home this year — one is St Helens and the other one is Leeds and they are one and two in the league.

"The league is pretty tough away from home at the moment. It is not something that we are not unaware of — we know we have got to pick up some points along the way.

"We are a good , solid rugby league team and we have some players coming back in and in Danny Tickle and Chris Clarkson we will get an injection in our back row but we have found a bit of a star in Matt Whitley.

"It is nice when you throw in an 18-year-old kid and it looks like he's been playing for 10 years."

Whitley has been rewarded with a new contract that will keep him in the black and white of the Vikings for the next three seasons.

"Matt hasn’t looked out of place in the side since his impressive debut. He looks like he deserves to be in the side regardless of his age which is testament to how hard he works."