SAINTS may be huge favourites to reach Wembley for the first time since 2008, but after the experience of last year they will not be taking Championship side Halifax for granted.
They will seek to exorcise those demons at the Bolton ground where they came a cropper against eventual winners Catalans last term.
That was a painful experience for all involved - not least coach Justin Holbrook who admitted to moping around his lounge at home, feeling miserable on final day three weeks later.
But the beauty of sport is that teams get a chance to right some wrongs - and it is something Holbrook believes his side is better equipped to take.
Holbrook said: “All year, as the season has gone on, our game management has been a lot more settled, and we are going to need that on Saturday.
“It is an exciting day – and it is great to have another opportunity after the disappointment here last year.
“Whenever you do something wrong, all you want to do is have another go.
“For us we have had to wait 12 months – and we get another shot at it on Saturday.
“All the reasons behind how we have gone about things as a team and as a group, means we are better prepared for the game.
“We are definitely going to be motivated for it that is for sure.”
But what are the threats posed by Championship side Halifax, who accounted for Super League side London Broncos en route to the semi.
They will not be taken lightly, even though Saints start favourites for a reason.
All due diligence will still be paid.
“We have just got to closely look at the way they play and make sure we prepare for their team as we would any other side. That means we have to be aware of their threats but make sure we keep our focus on ourselves,” he said.
READ: Tommy Makinson interview on what Wembley would mean>
“We won’t have any outside distractions and people saying ‘you are going to win’.
"This playing group won’t be taking anything for granted – this is a great opportunity and one that we want to take and are Halifax are in our way.”
The prize at the end of it is to do what every Saints coach since Daniel Anderson departed in 2008 has failed to do – take the team back to Wembley.
Mick Potter, Royce Simmons, Nathan Brown and Keiron Cunningham all failed in their quest to get the team to rugby league’s traditional showpiece.
Holbrook understands the history and knows that the town yearns for that big day in the north London sunshine, treading the paths walked by Messrs Prescott, Murphy, Karalius, Vollenhoven and Coslett. The place of the Dad’s Army folklore and where Bobbie launched his bombs.
He said: “Wembley is as big a thing as you can get. We all know about the success Saints have had in our town and what the cup means and that we haven’t been there in 11 years.
READ: Saints pick their 19-man squad for the Challenge Cup>
“With the side as good as we have got, we want to get there.
"We want to get there for ourselves, but also for everyone in our club and the town.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here