BACK-to-back Man of Steel Paul Sculthorpe has never been the sort of bloke to shirk a physical challenge – but next month will see him tackle by far his toughest test to date.

The former Saints and Great Britain captain, and training partner Nick Wilkinson, fly out to Morocco on April 3 to take part in the take on the formidable Marathon des Sables to raise funds for the Steve Prescott Foundation.

It is not without good reason described as the world’s toughest footrace, requiring the participants to brave temperatures of 50degrees in running 152 miles across the Sahara Desert.

And to add to the burden, the duo will have to be fully self-sufficient for the six days, carrying everything they need including their food, sleeping bags, camping stove and medical equipment.

Sculthorpe knows that it will be tough, but he is being guided by the words of legendary battler Steve Prescott, who passed away in November 2013 after a defiant fight against cancer.

He said: “Precky always lived by the saying 'the body achieves what the mind believes' and what better way to prove this than in one of the most brutal of challenges. We are pushing our bodies and minds to the limit but if one man can inspire us to do this, it is Steve.

“A lot of the torch that Steve lit is in this challenge. I know if he was still here he would be by our side without a doubt.

“You mention something like that to him and he was there. Look at the lads who did Kilimanjaro – that was all because it was one that he always wanted to do. We know he will be with us in the desert that week.”

All funds raised go to the SPF, which raises money for three causes, The Christie, Try Assist, which is a rugby league charity which helps severely injured players, and the Oxford Transplant Unit.

Sculthorpe has plenty of personal motivation to tackle the challenge and raise the funds for the good causes.

But after prematurely retiring from playing he is also forever grateful for the way teaming up with Steve Prescott helped keep the competitive sportsman inside him switched on.

“I always say as much as I helped Steve in the challenges, he helped me in that he gave me a bit of a focus and goal and something to train for, still in that team environment,” he said.

That something to train for is now looming largely on the horizon, and he is under no illusions how difficult it is going to be.

“It came about after seeing a documentary about James Cracknell doing it – I just fancied it.

“It’s renowned as the toughest footrace in the world, so it’s going to be toughest thing I have ever done.

“It is not just about the mileage but the self-sufficiency too. Everything you are going to need is in your bag from day one apart from the water, which they supply “There is a support crew, but if you need them, you are out of the race.

“It is six days, but you have a day off on day five because day four is known as the long day - 55 miles straight off.

“I am doing plenty of running, cycling and weights to keep my legs strong but you can’t really prepare for the 50 degree heat.

“We are hoping to get up to John Moores University for the heat chamber but other than that, you can’t do anything.

“It is not quite the same but I will be running some dunes at Formby in preparation,” he said.

Sculthorpe will have to get used to living in same clothes for a week and has had a nutritionist draw up a plan for a 3,000 calories a day diet.

But there is something about the harshness of the environment and the obstacles he will have to overcome that has fired him up for this challenge.

“I am really looking forward to it. No phones, no email and no telly – just desert.

“And when we are out there there’s no nipping in the shade or popping under an umbrella.

“A mate of mine who has done it said it was a life changing experience.

“People ask me if I miss playing, well if I didn’t do things like this or train or push myself then maybe a lot more. I still push to the limit in training every day – be it boxing, rowing or cycling – you have to or there is no point doing it otherwise,” he said.

Sculthorpe is hoping to raise a target of £20,000 for the Steve Prescott Foundation for this arduous challenge and readers can donate by logging on to www.justgiving.com/ScullyWilkyMDS