NATHAN Brown was philosophical about the Challenge Cup fifth round draw that handed Saints another testing trip over the Pennines – this time to face Leeds.

Saints have a strong record at Headingley over recent years, although they were knocked out of the Super League play offs by the Rhinos through a late Danny McGuire drop goal last autumn.

With a home league victory over Brian McDermott’s side backed up by Sunday’s victory at Huddersfield, Saints’ mental strength appears to be growing stronger by the week and Brown is confident his team will be unfazed by facing another of the big guns.

He said: "At the end of the day you have got to beat them to get there. The reality is that if Leeds got a soft draw, they would go through. If you can't beat them in round five, then you can't beat them in the final.

"Obviously Wigan and a couple of others have had a double soft draw, so it is cosy for them. But the reality is Wigan are going to have to beat a good team to win the cup.

"We have got a victory over a top side today and going to Leeds will be a challenge for us."