SAINTS will be without prop Luke Douglas for a short spell.

The Australian grafter damaged his knee early on in the Wakefield victory and it will mean that prop Kyle Amor has the opportunity to step up his minutes.

Although Douglas’ displays have not been as eye-catching as the those of Alex Walmsley, Luke Thompson and Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, coach Justin Holbrook said the Scottish international’s input has been invaluable.

Holbrook said: “I think we are ok there still.

“Kyle came back at Wakey and played a limited role because we had enough there, but he will take a more senior role in the pack this week.

“Our middles have been playing well; we have needed them to do that and now to carry that on.

“Duggy is one of those workhorses who you don’t really notice.

“Big Al, Louie and Tommo get noticed because they score tries – whereas Duggy just works hard, covers up the defence really well and gets through a lot of hard work in the middle of the field.

“He is one of those guys foes unnoticed but is an important part of the team and he will be sorely missed over the next couple of weeks.

“He will be back for the Wigan game.”

He misses Thursday’s trip to Castleford - a game in which what the pack does can prevent the free-scoring hosts getting on a roll.

Holbrook added: “You have to be physical with Cas because they are so good with the ball.

“They are so dangerous and really well organised and the way they execute their plays.

“Defensively we have to be great and that does not just mean tackling them strongly and physically, it means being smart with the decisions you make.

“If we are going to win on Thursday we need our decision making to be smart in defence.

“I am really happy with what we are doing with the ball and how we are defending, but it is going to be our decision making in defence that will dictate whether we win on Thursday.

“They are sitting where they are because they are loving playing.

“They will be looking forward to this game, they won’t be content to let one slip. They haven’t lost at home all season and are not going to drop their standards.

"We have to raise our standard to beat them."

This season Saints have seemed out of it on so many occasions, but like the determined spider in Robert the Bruce's cave, they have picked themselves up repeatedly and are now on the shoulders of the top four.

Holbrook said: "I am happy with how we are playing.

"The win against Wakefield gave me confidence in this side, but we have to continue that.

"We have clawed our way back, it is in our own hands if we keep winning games we will be there in the end.

"We have a tough start against the top three, but that is a good opportunity because we are playing well. Let’s play the top ones straight away.

"There are no easy games, but if we can get some wins that will set us up.

"If we can be the team that can knock Cas on their own ground that would put us in a great position."