SAINTS know they are in for a monumentally tough battle in Thursday night’s Super League semi-final at Castleford, but winning last time out at the Jungle means that Justin Holbrook’s men won’t be over-awed.

The Tigers finished the season 10-points clear of runners-up Leeds and a whopping 17 points ahead of fourth-placed Saints.

But although Castleford have only lost five games in the league, two of those defeats were against Saints – although in return the Tigers did hand out the mother of all beatings in the Challenge Cup when they posted 53 points.

In another quirk, the clash pitches Cas, with the competition’s best attack on 965 points up against Saints who, on 518, have the stingiest defence.

Holbrook has named an unchanged 19, with Jonny Lomax fit to play after missing the Salford clash.

He will displace Theo Fages at six in a clash which will see the winners head to Old Trafford.

Castleford have included scrum half Luke Gale, despite undergoing surgery to remove his appendix.

Holbrook said: “I have a heap of respect for Cas, they have six players in the Dream Team and have been sitting at the top all year for a reason and they deserve that.

“But come Thursday night we have as good a chance as any to win the game and I have got confidence in our side.

“The good thing is that we have beaten them at their place, not so long ago, and that helps us.

“In saying that we know that it is going to be a really tough game.

“We have to be on it for 80 minutes – they have strike quality and are a side that can really hurt you on any tackle.

“We have to make sure we are switched on for the whole time and if we do I am confident we can win.

“They are so well organised; their shift play is so well-rehearsed that everyone knows what job they are doing.

“It is up to us to make really good decisions in defence, and late ones at that.”

Saints: 1. Jonny Lomax 2. Tommy Makinson, 3. Ryan Morgan, 4. Mark Percival, 6. Theo Fages, 7. Matty Smith, 8. Alex Walmsley, 9. James Roby, 10. Kyle Amor, 12. Jon Wilkin, 13. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 14. Luke Douglas, 16. Luke Thompson, 18. Dominique Peyroux, 20. Morgan Knowles, 24. Danny Richardson, 28. Regan Grace, 36. Zeb Taia, 37. Ben Barba.

Castleford: 1. Zak Hardaker, 2. Greg Minikin, 3. Jake Webster, 4. Michael Shenton, 5. Greg Eden, 7. Luke Gale, 8. Andy Lynch, 9. Paul McShane, 10. Grant Millington, 12. Mike McMeeken, 13. Adam Milner, 14. Nathan Massey, 15. Jesse Sene-Lefao, 16. Ben Roberts, 17. Junior Moors, 18. Matt Cook, 19. Gladwin Springer, 21. Joel Monaghan, 34. Alex Foster.

The game kicks off at 7:45pm.

The referee will be James Child.