SAINTS entertain champions Leeds Rhinos tonight (7.45pm) looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

Coach Justin Holbrook rates this as the toughest clash they have had to date and has highlighted a number of key strengths of the Rhinos.

He said: “Leeds have fast and strong outside backs who get their sets going.

“And then Matt Parcell is quick out of dummy half.

“Then you have Joel Moon who is a dangerous player.

"They are a good quality side and a hard-working team and pop up everywhere in defence.

“They also play some good second phase type rugby.

“They are a strong side and continue to show that. They’ve only lost one game this year so we know it will be a tough game. But it is one we are looking forward to.”

The duels between Mark Percival and Kallum Watkins and Matt Parcell and James Roby could be key.

Big thing with Leeds is the way Hall clears the line and gets the forwards on the front foot, but they are strong on the other wing too in fleet-footed Tom Briscoe.

And in the pack streetwise Carl Ablett is very good getting under the skin of the opposition and a master, along with Jamie Jones Buchanan, at forcing errors in the tackle.

Saints are without injured Alex Walmsley and still suspended Morgan Knowles, while Leeds are without a handful of players with big prop Mitch Garbutt joining the casualty list including Adam Cuthbertson, Liam Sutcliffe, Stevie Ward, Brett Ferres, Nathaniel Peteru and Jimmy Keinhorst.

Nevertheless - it is a sign of the strength in depth of the Headingley outfit that they can still field a formidable 13.

Saints welcome back former skipper Jon Wilkin, whom Holbrook rates as being a vital link between the pack and backs.

Saints: Jonny Lomax, 2. Tommy Makinson, 3. Ryan Morgan, 4. Mark Percival, 5. Adam Swift, 6. Theo Fages, 7. Matty Smith, 9. James Roby, 10. Kyle Amor, 11. Zeb Taia, 12. Jon Wilkin, 13. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 14. Luke Douglas, 16. Luke Thompson, 17. Dom Peyroux, 18. Danny Richardson, 19. Regan Grace, 20. Matty Lees, 23. Ben Barba.

Leeds Rhinos: 1. Ashton Golding, 2. Tom Briscoe, 3. Kallum Watkins, 5. Ryan Hall, 6. Joel Moon, 7. Richie Myler, 9. Matt Parcell, 10. Brad Singleton, 11. Jamie Jones-Buchanan, 12. Carl Ablett, 14. Brad Dwyer, 15. Brett Delaney, 16. Anthony Mullally, 22. Ash Handley, 23. Jack Ormondroyd, 24. Jack Walker, 27. Cameron Smith, 28. Mikolaj Oledzki, 30. Josh Walters.

TOMMY Makinson needs two tries to reach a century of touchdowns for St Helens.

Makinson has scored 98 tries in 172 games for the Saints since 2011.

JAMES Roby needs one try to reach a century of touchdowns for St Helens.

Roby has scored 99 tries in 404 games for the Saints since 2004.

The Super League meetings between the sides show a pretty even record, with some humdingers over the years.

Here are the last ten meetings.

Leeds 16 St Helens 14 (SLS8-R3, 18/8/17).

Leeds 24 St Helens 22 (SLR20, 29/6/17).

St Helens 6 Leeds 4 (SLR1, 9/2/17).

St Helens 38 Leeds 34 (SLR12, 22/4/16).

Leeds 30 St Helens 18 (SLR6, 18/3/16).

Leeds 20 St Helens 13 (SLSF, 2/10/15).

Leeds 18 St Helens 32 (SLS8-R4, 4/9/15).

Leeds 24 St Helens 14 (CCSF, 31/7/15) (at Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington).

Leeds 46 St Helens 18 (SLR20, 3/7/15).

St Helens 16 Leeds 41 (SLR11, 17/4/15).

Super League summary: St Helens won 33 (includes wins in 1999, 2001, 2007 and 2008 play-offs).

Leeds won 31 (includes wins in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011 Grand Finals; 1998, 2005, 2013 and 2015 play-offs).

St Helens highest score: 62-18 (H, 1999) (Widest margin: 56-10, H, 2004)

Leeds highest score: 74-16 (H, 2001) (Widest margin: 70-0, H, 2004).