SAINTS make the short trip to Widnes on Sunday hoping to maintain the run that has seen them win nine out of their last 10.

But Vikings have caused Saints problems this year in two tight games, and they needed a late Mark Percival to snatch a win last July.

Cunningham may look at at making a couple of changes, but said he wants his side firing next week ahead of the semi-final.

The head coach said: “We will have a look at certain things this week to see how we go this.

“I do get worried about the Widnes pitch and at this stage if they get an injury it is a season-ending one.

“The week before the semi, we would want to go full tilt. we will have a look, see who is fresh and who is not.”

Vikings have claimed some big scalps again this year, and won at Wigan three weeks ago with a gritty defensive effort.

Cunningham said: “Widnes have improved out of sight in the last two years.

“Nobody saw them as a top eight side, challenging for cups. But the last couple of years they have gone well in the Challenge Cup and have made the top eight this year.

“That has come through good recruitment, coaching and players.

“I can tell that from the two games we have had against them this season.

“They have been some real tussles, especially the game at Langtree where they really took it to us and we scraped it.

“If we had not been as good defensively that day we would have been on the end of a loss.

“I will imagine they will be stinging from their losses. against us this year, but we are not going to lie down, we have our own ambitions.”

Cunningham said the spine of Joe Mellor, Kevin Brown, Rhys Hanbury out the back, and Aaron Heremaia and Lloyd White, is a match for anyone in the competition.

And he added: “They are one of the best set-starters in the comp, from taps and drop outs so a big thing on Sunday is where we give them the ball.

“It comes back to us as a team, and if we do the right thing we can make it tough for Widnes. If we take a lackadaisical approach it can be tough day all round.”

Cunningham was pleased to see Luke Walsh’s return last week, making everything else seem more settled.

It had a big effect on Jon Wilkin’s game.

“The way we play now and the way we have changed things is to spread things across three or four players.

“It does mean that if we do lose one of those key people it puts pressure on someone else and they end up trying harder.

“You end up making a few errors.

“I though Wilko was nice and calm for us at the weekend.

“He was dirty himself over the high tackle which he gave away when we were putting them under pressure.

“But I thought his leadership on the field was second to none.

“He was great with the ball in hand and the way he got us around the field was good. He was mixing his carries - I want him to carry as well as play.

“If you combine that with a good Luke Walsh, JT, Robes and Jonny and it makes it interesting.”

Cunningham said Mark Percival was not far off a return, and if need be would go straight in for the semi.

“I would have no qualms about throwing him straight in for the semi. Percy is a game breaker.

“There is a good chance he will be fit for Wakefield a week on Friday, that is what we have targeted. There a few boxes to tick.

“But Percy is a special player and a talent that we are missing.

“Matty Fleming has been doing a brilliant job but Percy is quite difficult to replace,” he said.