SAINTS can make sure of second spot, and the week off and home semi-final that goes with it, if they beat Leeds on Friday night in the last home game of the regular Super League season.

Having lost out on their slender chance of taking the League Leaders Shield with the Magic defeat by Catalans, Saints will be keen to bounce back.

And a match against the team that was once their Super League nemesis will be just the sort of encounter Kristian Woolf’s side will be up for.

The Saints boss said: “Leeds have plenty to play for – but so have we.

“We have to make sure we secure second spot and it is our last opportunity in the regular season to play in front of our own fans.

“It is going to be a great contest and I am confident our blokes are going to be right up for it.”

This is the first time the sides have met in Super League after the Headingley game was called off due to Covid in the Leeds ranks.

The sides played out a tough Challenge Cup clash in April.

“When we played them in the Cup they were missing some halves, but they gave us a tough, physical game in the middle.

“We expect the same again this week. That is what we have been doing for the last four weeks.

“Having this sort of preparation as we get nearer to the finals is absolutely perfect for us,” Woolf said.

Leeds are jostling with Wigan for fourth spot - which would give them a home eliminator.

Despite their injury concerns this year they retain a durable pack led by Matt Prior, with Kruise Leeming impressing at nine.

They have some talent in the backline, with young centre Harry Newman catching the eye.

Woolf said: "They are a good side who are likely to be in the top six for good reason, but again that makes for a game our blokes can get excited about.

"A win this week guarantees us a week off before the semi and that would allow us to give the players a freshen up.

"At the moment we want to play both league games (Leeds and Salford) and get as much footy under our belts if we can to harden ourselves for finals footy.

"You always want to get to a Grand Final with the fewest games possible because it takes away some of the risk.

"We are confident in what we can do regardless of where we finish, but we would rather give ourselves the opportunity for a week off and a freshen up – and that worked well for us last year."

Saints have named a 20-man squad: Coote, Makinson, Naiqama, Percival, Grace, Walmsley, Roby, Lees, Thompson, Knowles, Mata’utia, Amor, Welsby, Smith, Batchelor, Dodd, Wingfield, Eaves, Norman, Davies.