RETURNING captain Jon Wilkin believes Saints are the only team that can scupper Leeds Rhinos’ march to the treble.

Wilkin, who is one of only two remaining members of the last team to complete the Grand Slam, is due back for Friday’s tussle at Headingley after missing six weeks with a badly broken thumb.

Having viewed Leeds’ demolition of his former club at Wembley from close quarters, after being on BBC duties, Wilkin believes the cup winners will come into the game strong having not had to exert themselves too much in walloping the Robins.

Wilkin said: “I don’t think the game will have taken anything out of Leeds. The game was a training run for Leeds.

“They played really well – broke Hull KR down and scored points when they needed to. But physically the game was not at a standard of a good Super League game.”

With so many talking points focused around the Headingley outfit – the end of season departures of Jamie Peacock and Kevin Sinfield, the onward advancement of classy young backs Tom Briscoe, Zak Hardaker and Kallum Watkins and the bonus of old-school offloading prop Adam Cuthbertson – some pundits and fans expect Leeds to be preparing themselves for a coronation at Old Trafford in October.

Wilkin has other plans.

He said: “I think we are the only side that can disrupt everything that Leeds are talking about.

“From my experience – and I lookat our resources on the field – and we can not only match Leeds but beat them.

“I have watched a lot of their footage, I have loads of respect for them and they are really entertaining team.

“They are not playing in a structured way and that is what catches teams out.

"That reminds me a bit of how we played in 2006, so I can understand the comparisons and why people are saying that they are one of the best sides.

“Leeds are a great side, the next six weeks will say whether they will be recognised as one of the greatest sides.

"We have got a chance to have a say in that.

“If Leeds win the Grand Final, it does not make them the best side ever – there has to be a balanced opinion on that.

"They are a very good side, with a good blend – and their young players Watkins, Hardaker have made the transition into good players.

"Leeds have frailties too. They are not unbeatable – I don’t think anyone has taken them to a point in a game where they can expose those frailties.

"Leeds are usually 10-16 points up at some stage and the game is done.

"Our challenge against Leeds is to start the game with some intent and get stuck into them.

"We have stood back and watched them and let them score a couple of tries.

"And then said, hang on we are St Helens.

"That is not what we are about and it is not what I will be talking about this week.

"Yesterday after training we spoke about physically getting stuck into Leeds," he said.

Wilkin has been named in the 19 man squad and is relishing his return to the fold.

He said: "It has been tough watching but it will be great to get back in and I have got that anxious, nervous feeling and hoping I remember how to do it."

Saints: Tom Makinson, Jordan Turner, Josh Jones,Adam Swift, Travis Burns, Luke Walsh, Mose Masoe, James Roby, Kyle Amor, Jon Wilkin, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Alex Walmsley, Mark Flanagan, Mark Percival, Luke Thompson, Greg Richards, Joe Greenwood, A Savelio, A Quinlan.