SAINTS boss Keiron Cunningham does not expect Challenge Cup winners Hull to still be in a party mood when they visit Langtree Park on Friday night.

The league leaders have set out their stall to win the treble this year and Cunningham expects Saturday’s win to give the Black and Whites a real feelgood bounce.

Nonetheless, Saints have enjoyed a weekend off while Hull were enduring the physically and emotionally draining experience of a Wembley final.

That should give them as good a chance as they will get to chalk a win after losing the previous three encounters against Lee Radford’s men.

Although there is nothing seven-times cup winner Cunningham would have liked more than to have been at Wembley last week, he said the rest will have benefited his thinnish looking squad.

He said: “We needed to freshen those middles up and we are pretty bare at the minute with a couple sat in the suspension box and a couple out on loan who were not getting game time.

“We expect a real test from the cup winners. The days of partying for the week and then turning up have gone.

“We did that in 2001 and got hammered by Leeds, but it is not like that any more.

“Hull have made a statement — they want the treble and have ticked one of the boxes.

“That side is riding on the crest of a wave and playing some good rugby.

“I am glad Hull have got over the finishing line because they have done it tough and played the top five to win the trophy — us, Catalans and Wigan and then Warrington in the final.

“But we are pretty determined.”

Saints were walloped in the cup game by Hull, but the two league games were tight affairs with the home one being settled by a Marc Sneyd drop goal.

With a beaten-up Warrington going to Catalans on Saturday, Saints need to secure points to hold their top-four cushion.

Hull have left out cup winners Danny Houghton, Gareth Ellis, Anthony Minichiello, Marc Sneyd and Carlos Tuimavave.

They bring in some experienced fresh legs, with ex-Saint Leon Pryce and former Wigan prop Feka Paleaaesina included.

With prop Lama Tasi unavailable, Saints 19 is: 1. Jonny Lomax, 3. Jordan Turner, 5. Adam Swift, 8. Alex Walmsley, 9. James Roby, 10. Kyle Amor, 11. Atelea Vea, 12. Jon Wilkin, 13. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 15. Greg Richards, 18. Dominique Peyroux, 19. Theo Fages, 20. Joe Greenwood, 22. Jack Owens, 23. Shannon McDonnell, 24. Matty Fleming, 26. Oliver Davies, 27. Jack Ashworth, 28. Morgan Knowles.

1. Jamie Shaul, 2. Mahe Fonua, 5. Fetuli Talanoa, 6. Leon Pryce, 8. Scott Taylor, 10. Liam Watts, 13. Jordan Abdull, 14. Feka Paleaaesina, 15. Chris Green, 16. Jordan Thompson, 17. Dean Hadley, 19. Steve Michaels, 20. Curtis Naughton, 21. Sika Manu, 22. Josh Bowden, 23. Frank Pritchard, 24. Kirk Yeaman, 25. Jansin Turgut, 30. Danny Washbrook.