SAINTS travel to Headingley on tonight night buoyed by last week’s remarkable comeback win against Salford.

Although they have plenty still to do, the victory keeps Saints within touching distance of the top four - five points off the Leeds Rhinos.

With four games to go before the competition splits into the 8s, tonight's clash is a real four-pointer against one of the teams they need to overhaul.

Saints will be without strike centre Mark Percival, who picked up a one-match ban after the ball he kicked away in frustration on Friday night struck the referee.

In his place fit-again Ryan Morgan returns to the centre for a game in what is now one of several cup-final type tussles before the year is out.

Holbrook said: “If you want to be there at the end of the year we have to beat those good sides.

“We put ourselves under pressure against Salford but came up with the win but will have to play better at Leeds on Thursday.”

Rhinos lost to league leaders Castleford on Friday night, a match which was also costly at the disciplinary this week with Danny McGuire and Jamie Jones-Buchanan both picking up one-match bans that means they sit out the clash.

The defeat by Castleford will have stung them.

Holbrook added: “Losing to Cas last week makes Leeds harder to beat.

“They will be disappointed with that loss and be fired up.

“They are having a great year, they are in the cup semis and are fourth in the table.

“They have been a good side all year.”

Like many Australians, Holbrook is looking forward to the Headingley stadium experience - an arena that has been home so many cricket and rugby league stories over the years.

Although it is not his first visit, he is looking forward to taking a team to the historic stadium which will see its famous South Stand demolished in September.

Holbrook said: “I went up there when the North Queensland Cowboys played Leeds in the World Club Challenge last year. “ “It is a fantastic ground and great atmosphere and so it will be great to be a part of that this Thursday.”

Saints had named the same 19, bar Morgan coming in for Jake Spedding.

Percival, of course, has now dropped out of that but the next time we will see if a player has been drafted in will be an hour before kick off when the teams are listed.

Apart from the centres swapping, Holbrook seemed likely to stick with the winning team.

“I am pretty happy with the way everyone is going,” he said.

Saints 19: 1. Jonny Lomax, 2. Tommy Makinson, 3. Ryan Morgan, 5. Adam Swift, 6. Theo Fages, 7. Matty Smith, 8. Alex Walmsley, 9. James Roby, 10. Kyle Amor, 12. Jon Wilkin, 13. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 14. Luke Douglas, 16. Luke Thompson, 17. Tommy Lee, 18. Dominique Peyroux, 20. Morgan Knowles, 28. Regan Grace, 36. Zeb Taia.

Leeds: 1. Ashton Golding, 2. Tom Briscoe, 3. Kallum Watkins, 4. Joel Moon, 5. Ryan Hall, 8. Keith Galloway, 9. Matt Parcell, 10. Adam Cuthbertson,  12. Carl Ablett, 13. Stevie Ward, 14. Liam Sutcliffe, 16. Brad Singleton, 17. Mitch Garbutt, 20. Anthony Mullally, 23. Jack Ormondroyd, 24. Jordan Baldwinson, 25. Jordan Lilley, 31. Jack Walker.

James Child will referee the game.