AFTER surviving last week’s scare at Wakefield to go six points clear, Saints face another challenge on the road on Sunday at sixth-placed Salford.

The Red Devils ran Saints close last time the sides met with two Tommy Makinson penalties and a late try-saving tackle from Morgan Knowles on Chris Atkin securing a 14-10 win.

Saints were severely disrupted that night, losing Will Hopoate and Jonny Lomax early in the game but Paul Rowley’s Salford showed they could be a tough nut to crack.

And that will be the case again for the leaders at The AJ Bell Stadium (3pm).

Coach Kristian Woolf said: “Salford certainly backed themselves and made it a challenge that night and that is what we expect again this week.

“In the halves Brody Croft is a good player who I am very familiar with him from when I was coaching Queensland Cup a few years ago he was coming through at Melbourne. He was very highly rated, playing some time at Melbourne and at Brisbane before coming over here.

“He’s a good player and looks like he’s found some confidence.

“They have not been a massive surprise to us if you look at the roster they have put together – guys like Croft, Dan Sarginson, Kallum Watkins, Ken Sio and Joe Burgess.

“They have a very classy back line and some hard working forwards.”

Dan Norman has picked up a minor glute injury – and will be out for a couple of weeks.

"It is a shame for Dan because I thought he made a real impact and was looking forward to seeing him finish the game and play a little more time this week.

"That’s the way it goes sometimes in our sport," Woolf said.

Morgan Knowles is back after suspension, Sione Mata'utia has tow more games to serve.

Will Hopoate is expected back in a couple of weeks, but no exact timeframe has been placed on that return.