St Helens v Castleford: Super League preview
Last Updated: 08/09/16 7:06pm
St Helens coach Keiron Cunningham says Castleford are one of the most dangerous teams to play ahead of Thursday's clash, live on Sky Sports.
Castleford cannot make the top four but Cunningham is still taking them very seriously and is wary of their carefree style.
"They are playing really well," said Cunningham on the clubs official website. "They will come here to play for sure. They are playing a carefree type of rugby and have overcome a lot of injuries to do that. These types of teams are usually the most dangerous you can play against.
"We have started slow in our last two home games but have played against two sides who have come here and wanted to play. Hull brought in six, seven fresh players who had points to prove and took it to us. We didn't help ourselves but got better as the game went on.
"There were a couple of mental errors in the game but the good thing for me was how we overcame our start. Even taking the Wigan game into account we have been phenomenal defensively over the last nine games and one of the best in the comp. We are growing into that and gaining confidence going into the back end of the year."
Saints will welcome back Luke Walsh and Luke Thompson into the line-up after they completed their two-game suspensions.
"We had good combinations with them before they were banned," added Cunningham.
"Theo (Fages) came in perhaps a little too soon for that Wigan game, but he was much better against Hull and looked comfortable. I have some tough decisions to make but you do lean towards that pairing who played well in that seven week block.
"We still don't know where we could finish. All we can do is take care of what we can take care of. We had four really tough games to start this phase of the comp and have taken six points from a potential eight. It has put us in a good spot and now we have the so-called lower teams in the Super 8s.
"These games will be humdingers though. Cas pose all types of threat, Widnes rolled Wigan and then you face Wakefield and you don't know what they can throw at you.
"Of course we could like a home draw in the semi-finals - there is an advantage in that - but our away form has been good too. We will know more after the final round."
St Helens: Jonny Lomax, Jordan Turner, Adam Swift, Luke Walsh, Alex Walmsley, James Roby, Kyle Amor, Atelea Vea, Jon Wilkin, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Greg Richards, Luke Thompson, Dominique Peyroux, Theo Fages, Joe Greenwood, Jack Owens, Matty Fleming, Jack Ashworth, Morgan Knowles.
Castleford: Luke Dorn, Jake Webster, Denny Solomona, Luke Gale, Adam Milner, Oliver Holmes, Paul McShane, Matt Cook, Junior Moors, Ryan Hampshire, Ben Crooks, Will Maher, Greg Minikin, Conor Fitzsimmons, Larne Patrick, Paddy Flynn, Rangi Chase, Brandon Douglas, Luke Million.
