JUSTIN Holbrook says “working hard” will be key to his Saints side turning party poopers against Leeds Rhinos.

Hopes of achieving a home semi-final in the play-offs would be over tonight if Saints do not win at an emotionally charged Headingley, where the 86-year-old South Stand will be open for the last time before demolition.

But Holbrook insists the Leeds players will be motivated to succeed by factors beyond the fanfare and serenading planned for an occasion marketing chiefs are labelling ‘the last stand’.

“They’ll make it a big, tough showing for us as they say goodbye to their stand,” said Holbrook.

“But I think more important is the loss they’re coming off, which will make it a harder game for us.

“The stand will play a part but as a playing group they’ll be hurting a fair bit after being blown away a little at Wakefield last week.

“I’d be wary of them anyway. The way that they play is different and you have to be on your game to beat them.

“I would have preferred they’d have beaten Wakefield but had they done so I would be just as wary.”

“Planning wise, it is different to other teams when preparing for Leeds, but they’re no more dangerous than anyone else because the competition is that even.

“They are more unpredictable than other teams, that’s for sure, but you’ve just got to be ready to work hard otherwise you get caught out.

“If we’re ready to work hard, I think we’ll be ok.

“In that department they’ve been great, particularly defensively. Last week the conditions stopped the attacking game unfortunately but defensively we’ve been really good which you’ve got to be against Leeds.”

This season’s previous meetings have resulted in one win each, with only two points the difference on each occasion.

Holbrook highlighted circumstances behind Saints’ loss at Leeds at the end of June.

“We couldn’t get much to go our way and you have to play well enough so that sort of stuff doesn’t come into play,” he said.

“We lost Matty Smith early in the game and Jon Wilkin went to the sin bin.

“We had lots of things that didn’t work out for us but we only just come up short, so we don’t need to change too much. We just need to play well.”