SAINTS go into the international break with a bit of a bounce after last week's emphatic win over erstwhile Super League leaders Warrington.

But following the tough start to the 2023 campaign, especially the onerous demands of the World Club Challenge Down Under, coach Paul Wellens has extolled the underrated virtues of a week off to re-energise.

The break is timely, with Saints having a number of players sidelined with injury, and that has placed even heavier demands on the squad.

But after four defeats so early in the campaign, there was a lot more to like about Saints' emphatic win over the Wolves - providing plenty to build on when they return. 

Wellens said: "We're all in need of a bit of a break after a different start to the year and I think it will be well received by everybody involved.

"It is a great opportunity for us to be energised and come back with the bit between our teeth.

"I was pleased with the performance last week and to get back to winning ways and again it was as much about the performance as the result.

"I think we'll see the players will benefit from a week off to re-energise and get away from rugby for a little bit and I think we’ll see the benefits of this break down the track.

"We are keen to build on the momentum of last week's result.

"It was probably for the first time since we came back from Australia where we looked like ourselves.

"We defended with that energy and a real determination against a good side who have plenty of points in them.

"That was the pleasing part of the game for me. The fact that we're working so hard for each other defensively.

"When we do that, when we as a team work hard defensively, it gives us more opportunity with the ball."

Saints have radically adjusted their playing style since the Good Friday defeat - and the depletion of their middle unit may have forced their hand a little on that.

But so too have the results and the dawning that teams have rumbled the traditional style of Saints play that has delivered four consecutive titles. 

Wellens has been pleased with the evolution of those performances, especially with the ball.

And that has given him food for thought - even when the absentees return.

He said: "It's something that we implement more even when we get when we get back the players who are not available, having a different dimension to our game.

"Teams do work you out at times and I think the Good Friday performance was evidence of that where Wigan just committed a lot of bodies into the tackle and we were a bit one-out.

"Off the back of that performance we have looked for ways to improve, myself and Laurent sat down, particularly on the attacking side and looked at where we can get a bit more ball movement into our game.

"We saw evidence of that in the Hull KR game and improvements again against Warrington."

Saints have one player - Jack Welsby - on international duty this weekend, with other squad players ruled out with injury and suspension.