Preview: Leeds v St Helens (R22)

St Helens coach Daniel Anderson admits he is worried about the threat posed by dark horses Hull.

While most eyes will be on the engage Super League table-topping clash between Saints and Leeds at Headingley on Saturday, Hull have the chance to step up the pressure on the pacesetters when they go to Harlequins.

A 14th successive win by Peter Sharp?s men would either take them above Leeds into second place or see them move to within two points of St Helens, depending on the outcome at Headingley.

While Hull are able to devote all their energies into their bid for a first-ever Grand Final appearance at Old Trafford, both the Rhinos and Saints also have one eye on Twickenham, with crucial Powergen Challenge Cup semi-finals looming.

Leeds take on Huddersfield on Sunday week while Saints meet Hull KR next Saturday for a place in next month?s cup final and Anderson concedes the conflict of interests could play into Hull?s hands.

?They?ve got one focus, whereas both of us have a split focus,? he said.

?We don?t want to tinker with our teams but we do have a split focus. Obviously, I have got an eye on our next two games.?

Leeds? surprise defeat at Castleford last Sunday left them four points behind their Roses rivals and if Saints, 13-4 winners at Knowsley Road in February, complete the double, they will have one hand on the league leaders? shield.

Anderson admits it is a four-pointer but believes the race for top spot could go down to the wire, with Leeds facing another trip to Knowsley Road before the end of the regular campaign.

?They will be smarting,? he said. ?Cas did us and Hull a great favour but you have to beware of a wounded team.

?Obviously we want to win the game because it would cement our position for the top two at the end of the year.

?It will either give us a bigger spread or we?re back in the mire again. I?ve got a feeling it will go all the way to the end of the season.?

St Helens are boosted by the return of centre Willie Talau and scrum-half Sean Long but they are still without winger Francis Meli as well as skipper Paul Sculthorpe.

Leeds welcome back skipper Kevin Sinfield, who needs just one goal to bring up 500 goals in the Super League regular season, and fellow Great Britain international Gareth Ellis, with prop Mark O?Neill and winger Danny Williams dropping out of the side.

Leeds Rhinos v St Helens, Saturday July 22 2006

Leeds 18-man squad: Donald, Walker, Senior, Smith, McGuire, Burrow, Bailey, Diskin, Peacock, Lauitiiti, Ellis, Sinfield, Millard, Poching, Jones-Buchanan, Scruton, Gibson, Tansey.

St Helens 18-man squad: Wellens, Gardner, Lyon, Talau, Pryce, Long, Fozzard, Cunningham, Cayless, Gilmour, Wilkin, Roby, Hooper, P. Anderson, V. Anderson, Graham, Hardman, Fa?asavalu.

Referee: A Klein

Source: superleague.co.uk