Catalans Dragons go into the Challenge Cup final with St Helens as huge outsiders.
Underdogs target huge cup upset in final showdown
Catalans Dragons go into the Challenge Cup final with St Helens as huge outsiders.
The French side must overcome the biggest odds since Sheffield Eagles toppled Wigan in 1998 if they are to capture the trophy.
SkyBet make the French finalists
6-1 to win the first final at the new Wembley on Saturday, with one bookmaker offering odds of 5-1 that Saints record the biggest ever margin of victory.
The record was set by Leeds, who triumphed 52-16 against London Broncos in the last final to be played at the old Wembley in 1999.
It is a classic case of the cup specialists against the raw novices with nine of the first 10 players in the betting for the Lance Todd Trophy for man of the match coming from St Helens.
The odd man out is Catalans captain Stacey Jones whose intriguing battle with Trophy hat-trick winner Sean Long could settle the outcome of the match.
Knowledge
The skills of Jones are well known to St Helens coach Daniel Anderson, who coached him at Auckland Warriors.
Anderson is acutely aware of the other threats in the Dragons line-up but admits he has been putting his inside knowledge of the little general to good use in the build-up to Saturday's showdown.
"A little bit," he said.
"But his knowledge of myself will probably play into their preparations too.
"Stacey has carried the burden of responsibility as the sole playmaker in a team for many many years at international and club level.
"He's been fantastic through the years and I know he's excited about the game
"But Adam Mogg has been a brilliant buy for them this year, as have (Casey) McGuire and (Clint) Greenshields who hurt us a couple of weeks ago, and I've always been impressed by their forward pack."
Doubts still persist over the fitness of Jones' half-back partner McGuire, who looked to have been ruled out a week ago with a torn pectoral muscle.
But he will undergo a fitness test after making remarkable progress and coach Mick Potter looks increasingly likely to take a gamble on the former Brisbane Broncos stand-off.
Prepare
Potter said: "It's a massive occasion, isn't it?
"A few of the St Helens players have appeared in a few Challenge Cup finals but it's quite possibly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our guys."
Anderson is also expecting the Australian to line up, saying: "We'll prepare as if he's going to play."
The holders are at full strength with the exception of long-term injury victim Paul Sculthorpe and the ineligible Chris Flannery.
Anderson's only selection dilemma is whether to opt for second rower Paul Clough or prop Bryn Hargreaves on the bench, with the unlucky player taking on the role of 18th man.
Clough, who would be one of the youngest players on the pitch a month ahead of his 20th birthday, said: "This will be my first visit to Wembley so, if I'm picked to play, it will be even more special."
