SAINTS boss Keiron Cunningham does not expect any of his players to have half an eye on next week’s World Club Challenge game when they run out at Salford tomorrow.

Instead he says all the focus and talk on the training ground has been about facing a Salford side that have again recruited smartly.

The Red Devils started strongly in the first half hour of the game at Warrington last week before finally succumbing.

But with big men Cory Paterson and Gareth Hock to the fore, Salford physically aimed up – and are likely to do so again on Thursday for their first home game of the campaign.

He said: “Salford came out flying and they bullied Warrington early on and it was good to see.

“They have recruited well and they have spent a lot of money again and it looks like this year could be their year. They have worldwide renowned players that Marwan Koukash has recruited.”

The grilling Saints anticipate getting from the Red Devils – plus the keen competition for jerseys in the 17 – are enough to concentrate the Saints minds on Thursday.

“The players are not really in a mindset for the World Club Challenge.

“We have such a big turnaround in the build up to that Souths game so that will do us good.

“If it had been shorter it would have been at the back of their minds more - but everyone’s focus is on Salford this week.

“All we have heard on the training ground is what we have got to do this week,” Cunningham said.