SO many elements will feed into an emotionally-charged final home game of the season this evening – but the over-riding one is for Saints to beat Castleford Tigers and as good as secure their top six finish.
A good victory, with troops back – including the first time 1-13 has appeared in the 21 for aeons – would give Saints confidence that they could attack the play-offs as this year’s written off underdogs and replicate the Mission Impossible feat of 2014.
Lose, and the roof will come in a season that has jittered from start to finish through a combination of poor form from key personnel and an unprecedented injury crisis that has contributed to the side’s drop off in the final 11 rounds of the campaign.
Although defeat tonight against Castleford side that has already beaten Saints at TWS this year would not 100 per cent terminate those play-off hopes, they would have to go to an-song Leigh and win next week.
Winning in that last chance saloon at LSV would seem an unlikely prospect if they can’t get a result at home tonight.
With what is at stake Saints will have to bring their big match experience to the fore for what is as good as the start of knockout rugby.
Those senior players will want departing players Tommy Makinson, Lewis Dodd and Sione Mata’utia to enjoy a lap of honour with a backdrop of cheers not a prematurely deserted ground.
And Saints have approached the week slightly differently with the help of former Saints wing John Kirkpatrick, who played at Saints under Ian Millward in the early 2000s, and who is now head of performance at Sale Sharks.
Coach Paul Wellens said: “We spent a day training over at Sale, for a different environment and change of scenery to freshen things up and it was a positive day for us.
The return to the squad of five key men – although there’s no guarantee that they will all play – is a timely boost.
Tommy Makinson is back from suspension, whilst injury returnees include Mark Percival (Achilles), James Bell (back), Daryl Cark (broken foot) and Lewis Dodd (elbow ligaments).
There may be some ring-rustiness, but if Saints are to make any impression on the business end of the year those players need to play.
Saints lost last week, in a game that in defence they largely contained the potent Warrington side but with the ball could not get out of their own end and the attack was very as a result
The return of renowned set-starters Percival and Makinson will add to that cause – and the Saints pack are always much better in making headway when there is momentum, less so when on the back foot.
With Moses Mbye suspended, Dodd will come in at seven and hopefully sign off with a special display to spearhead the side into the play-offs.
Wellens said: “Our performances in the last two weeks were by no means perfect – but our application, the way we defended and was willing to work hard for each other was there.
“There is a lot to tidy up there, and we need to respect possession and be better with our discipline – the things that have got us into trouble in the past, we know there is plenty to clean up.
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