THREE defeats on the spin have sent the Saints rollercoaster on a steep downward ride meaning a loss tonight will halt the ride for another year.

Saints must beat tonight's hosts - fourth-placed Wakefield - to stand any realistic chance of making one of the last two semi final spots.

Now in sixth, three points behind Trinity and two behind Wigan, Justin Holbrook's men are now reliant on slips from those two or Hull to make the cut.

Holbrook's first task this week was to try and lift a mood that was as flat as pancake among the players - one that had descended across the town after Friday's home loss to Wigan.

He said: "The mood was still flat and one of disappointment among the players on Monday, which I expected.

"But I told them we need to be upbeat and ready to go.

"We have to go out there on Thursday and win it.

"Wakefield are playing well so we can't go out there and ease our way into it. We have to go after it.

"There are no more chances. We need a bit of luck but with everyone playing each other there is still a chance.

"We have to give it our best shot.

"We are reliant on others now, but that is our own fault for losing three in a row.

"We have got to get those wins, starting at Wakefield, and then we can still make those semis."