SAINTS have a blank weekend as they are no longer in the Challenge Cup - but the knockout contest could still have an impact on the way they finish the year.

All the top four are still in the cup and there is a chance that their dual focus could give Saints a glimmer of hope.

Coach Keiron Cunningham said: “We have to keep up pressure on those teams above us now.

“We have spoken about it in depth as a club. We have to take every round like a Grand Final.

“We saw that on Friday when there was a bit of bite about the team that we have not seen for a fair bit.

“That is exciting for me as a coach as I can see that glimmer of where we can be.

“Our biggest challenge now is not falling in love with what we have just done and do a great job at Wakefield.”

The edge could be seen on Friday when Mark Percival challenged Alex Walmsley in back play after a defensive lapse.

It was something Cunningham welcomed.

“I like players challenging other players, although there is a line that should never be crossed.

“I think it was good for both of them because Percy is becoming a leader and Big Al is already one.

To see a potential leader square a big leader up shows they care, if they were just walking back after that and not challenging each other you would be disappointed as a coach.

“If you are going in the right direction you have to have your leaders challenging each other.

“Five minutes later after we had scored they were hugging each other behind the posts.

“It was a good sign for me.”

The early cup exit means that is is one of three blank weekends for Saints before the season finishes.

Although gutted to be out of the cup, Cunningham believes the time off will do them good after a tough month which saw them lose four games in a row ahead of the Hull KR win.

“The players have had a couple of days off and it has given them time to freshen up mentally more than anything,” he said.

“It has been a tough month for everyone, mentally and physically - not picking up points and having some busted bodies.

“We have been working hard for each other but it has not been clicking in certain areas.

“The Hull KR game was always a potential banana skin. They had gone to Cas and Wakefield and put lots of points on them.

“Regardless who was or wasn’t playing, they had a big pack and took it to us, but I thought the resilience of the players was great.

“We were not quite clicking but we found a way to get back in before half time.

“Then we continued that, starting with force and vigour in the second half and I thought we had some real bite.

“The result was deserved.

“You could see that the players were nervous and anxiety in rugby league is not your friend.

“I am pleased the payers found a way of taking their shackles off and we scored some good tries.”

Cunningham also praised the supporters backing at the weekend.

“The support at the weekend really lifted the team at a vital period when we needed lifting.

“The players are probably understanding how much influence the fans can have on the game.”