SAINTS may be down on numbers but Nathan Brown expects them to be full of confidence when they face Leeds Rhinos this Friday.
Super League’s unbeaten teams go head to head at Langtree Park on Friday (8pm) in what is expected to be an epic clash.
And although Saints have players out injured and suspended Brown expects the younger players to stand up once more.
“Joe Greenwood got the chance to play against Wakefield and did well, so to watch him play against Leeds will be good,” Nathan said. “Leeds are one of the best teams in the comp and to see Anthony Walker, Greg Richards and Matty Dawson get the chance to play against a club that would be competing at the top end of the table will be good. It will be interesting to see what they can do against that type of opposition.
“Confidence isn’t a problem here and I’m sure they will do well. The good thing for us is the players out are ‘short term’… this time last year it was three, four or five months. We will go out there and give it our best shot.”
Saints expect to welcome Lance Hohaia back into the mix whilst Gary Wheeler and Mark Percival also have good chances of returning.
Jon Wilkin, Kyle Amor and Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook are banned for the match whilst Willie Manu joins Alex Walmsley, Luke Walsh, Jordan Turner and Richard Beaumont on the sidelines.
Brown continued: “Any coach would want to play with their best players and to be honest I would like to face a full strength Leeds team this week. Those games are good to watch and are a good challenge. We are fortunate our injuries are short term; just they haven’t come at the most ideal time.
“We have confidence in the squad; they found a way to win at the weekend and we are confident we have a good shot whatever side we put out.
“Playing Leeds will be a real step up for our young forwards and give us an indication of their improvement from last year. Mark Percival, Adam Swift and Alex Walmsley started their careers last year and improved. That is the challenge now for Joe Greenwood, Anthony Walker and Greg Richards, to improve as much as they have.”
Tickets for Friday’s game remain on sale from the Ticket Office at Langtree Park, by calling 01744 455 052 or by logging on here.
