SAINTS tackle relegation-threatened Leeds at home on Friday night, but expect the Loiners to raise their game as normal.

Leeds are locked at the bottom of Super League with Hull KR and London and desperate for points - but despite their woes they always lift when confronted by the red vee.

Saints bring back the three players who were rested last week - Matty Lees, Dom Peyroux and Regan Grace.

Joseph Paulo misses out and Adam Swift, who hurt his back in a tackle on the stroke of half time also drops out.

Justin Holbrook said: “That works well to have Regan coming back in and resting Swifty."

But looking ahead to the Leeds clash, with NRL-bound Kallum Watkins in his penultimate game, Holbrook expects a tight one.

He said: “All of the Leeds games since I have been here have been tight, I don’t know why.

“Leeds always play well against us.

“They still have so many dangerous players and have got threats everywhere despite where they sit on the table.

“We have got to play well on Friday and we know that.”

Saints have only lost twice all term and have a six-point lead at the summit, but they know they will have to deal with Leeds’ desperation.

“Leeds will be desperate for points but we have to respond in the way we have done all season.

“We don’t want to drop those standards and playing at home on Friday we want that to continue because have been terrific at home all season.

“It doesn’t matter who we play - London, Leeds, Warrington or Wigan - we want to live up to our own expectations.

“The way we are playing now, it doesn’t matter who plays we know how we are going to play, which is good.

“But in terms of picking the absolute best side, there is no real rush on that - no timeframe but obviously we want to be at our best for the Challenge Cup semi - and if we are good enough there then the same again at Wembley.

“We want to keep winning, but there is no clear timeline on when we have to have our best 17 playing because our squad is strong and every team we pick is capable of winning the game.”

Saints 19: Lomax, Makinson, Naiqama, Percival, Grace, Fages, Walmsley, Thompson, Taia, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Knowles, Amor, Peyroux, Lees, Ashworth, Smith, Bentley, Coote, Costello.