SAINTS travel to Headingley for tonight's Super League clash against Leeds Rhinos - and to make it even more intriguing the sides will play again, same time and place, in the Challenge Cup next Friday.

Coach Paul Wellens will not alter the way they approach tonight's game ahead of the knockout encounter – with a win especially important after last weekend’s first defeat of the season at home to Salford.

He has made three changes to the squad, with Mark Percival suspended for two matches and Curtis Sironen sidelined.

Konrad Hurrell returns from his suspension and forwards Matty Lees and Joe Batchelor are fit, with the latter in line for his first game of the Super League campaign after sustaining a collar bone injury in the pre-season friendly.

Wellens said: “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.

“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.”

One of those threats is Ash Handley on the wing, who seems to regularly find tries against Saints, and knows his way to the try line often from a long way out.

Wellens said: “I think a number of teams in Super League are finding out about his ability to find the find the try line and obviously you need good players around you to create those opportunities.

“But certainly when you look at Ash Handley, he's one of the premier finishers in the competition.”

Facing Saints old boy James Bentley 

Another player who will make his presence felt will be abrasive second rower James Bentley, up against his former team.

Bentley, who enjoyed four seasons at Saints, was in the Super League-winning team of 2020 but moved on to the Rhinos at the end of 2021.

He is back this week to face Saints after serving a suspension.

Wellens said: “We have got a really healthy respect for James Bentley and in the time that he was here he was a huge part of the success that we had and you know player who I felt really fitted in with the with the way that we play.

“Obviously he made the choice to go back home to Leeds, which he was well within his rights to do but obviously he's on the opposite team now and we will go head-to-head, but there's certainly no animosity towards James.

“He's a great lad, someone that you know we loved having around here.

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

Wellens, who loved this fixture in his playing days, 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.”

St Helens’ 21-man squad v Leeds Rhinos.

1. Jack Welsby, 2. Tommy Makinson, 3. Waqa Blake, 5. Jon Bennison, 6. Jonny Lomax, 7. Lewis Dodd, 8. Alex Walmsley, 9. Daryl Clark, 10. Matty Lees, 11. Sione Mata’utia, 12. Joe Batchelor, 13. Morgan Knowles, 14. Moses Mbye, 15. James Bell, 18. Jake Wingfield, 19. Matt Whitley, 20. George Delaney, 21. Ben Davies, 22. Sam Royle, 23. Konrad Hurrell, 25. Tee Ritson.

Leeds Rhinos’ 21-man squad v St Helens

1. Lachie Miller, 3. Harry Newman, 5. Ash Handley, 6. Brodie Croft, 7. Matt Frawley, 8. Mikolaj Oledzki, 9. Andy Ackers, 10. Tom Holroyd, 11. James Bentley, 12. Rhyse Martin, 13. Cameron Smith, 14. Jarrod O’Connor, 16. James McDonnell, 17. Justin Sangare, 18. Mickael Goudemand, 21. Jack Sinfield, 23. Leon Ruan, 24. Luis Roberts, 25. James Donaldson, 29. Alfie Edgell, 31. Ned McCormack.

Pre-match tribute to Leeds all-time great Lewis Jones.

Leeds will be remembering one of their greatest-ever players at Friday’s game, Lewis Jones who sadly passed away last week.

Ahead of kick-off there will be a minute’s silence to pay respects.

‘The Golden Boy’ played 385 times for Leeds, scoring 144 tries and kicking an incredible 1,244 goals for a total of 2,920 points over 12-year period with the club. On the international stage he was capped 15 times for Great Britain Rugby League, whilst in rugby union he earned 10 caps for Wales, and played three times for the British & Irish Lions.

Former teammates of Lewis, Derek Hallas and Alan Smith will lead out the Rhinos with a blue and amber wreath, and our Chairman Eamonn McManus will lead out the Saints with a red and white wreath to represent St Helens R.F.C. as well as Wales and the British Lions.

Leeds v St Helens ticket information

 Saints' standing supporters will be based in the Western Terrace, with seated supported in North Stand (Section A) .

Away fans will need to enter the stadium through the turnstiles stated on the tickets which are Gate G – which is on Kirkstall Lane. Turnstiles for this match will be open three hours before kick-off (5pm).

Bags no larger than A4 paper are allowed into the stadium and will be subject to search on arrival. Fans may also be searched upon entry too.

Purchasing tickets on matchday

It is advised to purchase tickets in advance of matchday as the price at Leeds Rhinos is increased on matchday, however, Saints fans can still get their tickets online by visiting tickets.therhinos.co.uk up to kick-off with the ticket sent via email to be used at turnstiles.

Fans can also purchase tickets directly on the turnstile for the away section of the stadium by going to Gate G on Kirkstall Lane with contactless payment via a debit/credit card, or a payment service via smartphone. No cash will be accepted at the turnstiles.

Matchday ticket prices

Adults – £27.

Concessions (65+ & 17-23) – £22.

Juniors (16 and under) –  £15.