SAINTS centre Mark Percival is hoping a good end of season in the Super 8s will dovetail nicely with selection for the autumn’s World Cup – but is happy to bide his time if that does not pan out.

The 22-year-old three-quarter made his international debut in last term’s Four Nations and although he was included in Wayne Bennett’s squad that travelled Down Under for the mid-season test against Samoa, neither he or fellow Saint Alex Walmsley were selected.

The decision surprised many observers, particularly as Percival was the competition’s form centre at the time – but he took it on the chin and that has reinforced his determination to force his way in with constant improvement.

Percival said: “I was happy and privileged to be out with that England squad.

"I just thought if Wayne Bennett does not want to pick me then this is his choice. He is a quality coach – he’s the best.

“But I was gutted because I wanted to test myself against a big strong physical side in Samoa, whose players all play NRL and wanted to see where I was at from the Four Nations.

“Hopefully I can get another chance at some point in my career to get to that level.

“I just want to put myself in there, play well at Saints at the back end this year in the big games, but if World Cup selection does not come to me at the end of the year somehow and I will have to bide my time and keep progressing.”

Percival believes that last year’s international experience has done him the power of good in Saints colours.

And even when times were rocky, in what has been a turbulent season, Percival’s sharp thrusting runs and knowing where the try line is have got Saints out of plenty of bother this year – particularly in the home games against Salford and Hull.

Percival added: “Playing Four Nations last year for England was a childhood dream and it helped me kick on this season.

"In the Australia game I realised there were parts in the game where I have to be more switched on than Super League.

“If you switch off for a minute you get caught out and I did for a couple of times that game.

“But I feel it did help me learn for the future – I am still young and can still get to that level.”

On a changing left-hand gang at Saints this term, Percival has been the constant with his edge back rower Joe Greenwood departing and being replaced by Zeb Taia and Welsh flier Regan Grace displacing Adam Swift on the flanks.

He admits that there are still things that they are working on together, but is happy with the way that side is bedding in.

Percival said: “We are getting that partnership going on the left, I like playing with Regan just like I do with Swifty.

“Reegs is a quality player and he is doing really well for us.

“There has been a lot of changes on that left, Joe was there at the start of the year, Zeb Taia is there now and it is about adapting to how each other play.

“In the first few games together when Zeb arrived a few balls were going down but that was because we were trying to get to know each other.

“It feels like we are on the same page together now.

“I love playing on that left side, because that is our side and we have to look after each other – I am enjoying it.”

The crowd groaned their displeasure on Sunday when Percival failed to put Grace away in the first half against Catalans, but the centre sees his pass or stick approach as a key part to centre play.

"It is hard,” said the 22-year-old Widnesian.

“Some people are disappointed if you don’t give it to Regan all the time, but you have to give it in the right space to make him go."

Percival has been very impressed with the impact the young Welshman has made since breaking into the first team on Good Friday this year.

“He is brilliant,” Percival said.

“I have never seen anything like him.

“You give him the ball in space and nobody will get near him.

“I don’t think we have really seen what he can do yet if he gets some more space.

“If you have him outside, defenders think you are going to give it to him all the time it buys some space inside.

“He is going to be interesting going forward because he is going to do some damage.”

Although born and raised in Widnes to a strong rugby league family, Percival has been on Saints’ books since he was 13.

And although with his running and eye for what is going on he sports a lot of the classic Widnes centre traits of the players long before his time – Mick George, Mal Aspey, Andy Currier and Darren Wright – it was watching a number three in the red vee who kickstarted his rugby league development.

“When I first started playing I was not really that interested in rugby league, but I loved watching Saints and the way they played.

“They were always on with their skill levels – the likes of Wello and Longy were still playing then - and they would demolish teams.

“But watching the likes of Jamie Lyon made a big impression and when Saints came in I bit their hands off because I knew it would improve me as a player.

“They have helped me a lot and given me plenty of encouragement,” he said.