SAINTS will make back-to-back visits Headingley with Friday’s Super League clash followed by a Round 6 Challenge Cup tie seven days later.

But coach Paul Wellens says he will not alter the way they approach this week’s game ahead of the knockout encounter – with a win especially important after last weekend’s surprise home defeat.

They face a Jekyll and Hyde Leeds side, with a new-look spine, that recovered from a 16-0 deficit last week at Leigh to win.

Wellens said: “Leeds have a number of high quality individual threats – players who can hurt you like Brodie Croft, Harry Newman, Andy Ackers out of nine and a number of middle forwards who like to promote the ball and offload.

“They’re a very dangerous team - that’s very clear to see.

“They are comfortable playing within structure but at the flick of a switch can very quickly come out of that and the game almost gets chaotic and that’s something that we have to prepare for.

“On the evidence of the first few rounds – are a team that are prepared to chance their arm a little bit and it makes for a really attractive style of the rugby when you get it right.

“So again, the onus is on us to go there and do all we can to nullify those threats.

“We’ll approach the situation for what it is and obviously it is two huge games against a good side and two huge games that we’re determined to win.

“We have to really knuckle down over the next few weeks to bring out the best in ourselves.”

Wellens explained a number of player were being assessed for knocks but they will all play if passed fit and good to go due to the importance of the game.

There is something special about this fixture, particularly at Headingley where the 1,200-strong travelling army packed into the open East terrace will be hoping for a dry night.

Wellens, who loved playing in this particular fixture, added: “It is two clubs who, if you think about since the inception of Super League, have had a huge amount of success.

“I think we are quite similar in a lot of respects in that there’s a an expectation around success when you represent both clubs and that that quite naturally makes for really competitive games.

“So we’re going be faced with another one on Friday night, and another one the week after and it’s a great challenge for us.”