THE spirit of 2014 is spurring on Jordan Turner as Saints battle to stay in the hunt for a top-four finish.

Turner, who was switched into the halves for the run in to that eventful year that was capped with a shock Grand Final win, sees parallels with this year.

With Theo Fages out for eight weeks following knee surgery, Luke Walsh currently sidelined with a calf injury and Travis Burns seeing out the year at Leigh, Turner has again donned the number six role.

Once again there is a huge responsibility on the powerful Oldhamer as Saints enter a phase in which every game is vital if they are to make an impression on the top four.

Turner said: “I don’t want to jinx it but it feels similar to 2014 when we were down on troops and went away to Catalans and got spanked.

“It was all doom and gloom but then I shifted into the halves and a few of the senior lads got together and said we may as well go for it.

“We are in a similar situation now — we have got nothing to lose, we have to give it our best shot.”

Turner, who is off contract at the end of the year, returned to the first team in May after being dropped.

“No player likes being dropped but I took it on the chin and accepted that I had hit a dip in form.

“I agreed with the coach and he needed to freshen things up.

“I feel I have had the kick up the backside I needed.

“The last two games I have been enjoying my rugby again which is massive because I like to play with a smile on my face.

"I like being in the halves and getting my hands on the ball and organise because I talk a fair bit. My utility has put me in good stead and wherever Kez asks me to play I will do a job."

Turner, who has been at Saints since 2013, is out of contract at the end of the season - but is not letting the off field stuff distract him from his mission for the remainder of this year.

He said: "I am up at the end of the year. Things are ongoing off the field, but I can't let that distract me from my rugby.

"I want to win some silverware here, just like a couple of years ago.

"I just want to keep playing well and those things off the field will sort themselves out.

"I don’t want to leave but things happen and you can’t stay at a club forever and times change. One day it will be my time to go."