BRADFORD boss Francis Cummins is all too aware of a “backlash” from Saints today.
Although the sides are separated by just one point the former full-back/winger believes their opponent’s ‘irregular form’ could provoke a response.
“Someone is going to have to cope with the backlash of Saints’ irregular form and we’ve got to make sure that it’s not us,” he said. “We need to go at their weaknesses but most importantly, play to our strengths. If we improve but don’t get the result I can still be happy, that is the stage I am still currently at.
“Don’t get me wrong, I want the two points desperately but we just need to improve with the ball a bit more. You can’t afford to be complacent when you face a team like Saints.
“There is a reason they are one of the top teams and one of those reasons is that they have class players. They’ve been in Grand Final after Grand Final and it tells me that they have got quality all over and they’ve got a model that works for them. They have a great coach in Nathan Brown and they will still be there or thereabouts.
“They will be hoping for a good result this weekend, as are we, but teams like that don’t stay in slumps for long.”
He continues: “Two players that stand out for me are James Roby and Sia Soliola. Roby has a tremendous work rate and he is just unreal.
“I think that Soliola has stepped up a lot and he is their main go forward man and you’ve got to put some effort into stopping him.
“Then you have to think about Jonny Lomax, who can run the game off the back of these players, then you start talking about Jon Wilkin and Paul Wellens and you frighten yourself to death!”