SAINTS will choose from the winners of the two First Utility Super League preliminary semi-finals, Castleford Tigers v Warrington Wolves and Huddersfield Giants v Catalan Dragons when they make the ClubCall pick live on Sky Sports next Friday (September 26).

The 2014 League Leaders Shield winners earned a bye in Week 2 of the play-offs and the right to select their opponents with a thumping 41-0 victory over Castleford Tigers on Friday night.

Missing half a team of senior players, many of whom were on hand to receive the League Leaders’ Shield from Super League Chairman Brian Barwick, Saints turned in a display rich in authority to take an important step nearer Old Trafford.

The victory came just 24 hours after defending champions Wigan Warriors had also secured a bye by hammering Huddersfield Giants 57-4 on Thursday night.

St Helens cannot pick their arch-rivals in ClubCall, which will take place immediately after Friday night’s televised play-off between Huddersfield and Catalans Dragons, the winners of which will join either Castleford or Warrington as options for Saints chairman Eamonn McManus to choose.

On Saturday, a hat-trick off tries by Joel Monaghan inspired a stirring second-half fightback by Warrington to break the hearts of Widnes Vikings before Challenge Cup holders Leeds Rhinos crashed to a last-minute defeat at home to Catalans Dragons.

The unpredictable nature of the opening round of the play-offs makes for two compelling contests at Castleford and Huddersfield next week, when Saints face a real dilemma in determining which opponents stand between them and a place in the title-deciding Grand Final at Old Trafford on Saturday October 11.

Next week’s play-off schedule is as follows: Thursday September 25.

Castleford Tigers v Warrington Wolves (8.00pm).

Friday September 26.

Huddersfield Giants v Catalans Dragons.