SAINTS have no time to lick their wounds sustained in the Sydney Roosters defeat - because heading to town on Friday night are a Bradford Bulls side with one word on their lips...revenge!

The Bulls are still sore at being pipped in last year's Grand Final, believing key decisions went against them in the build up to Sean Long's late drop goal winner - and in the closing seconds.

And it looks like Knowsley Road will be packed to the rafters for what could well be the ultimate grudge match.

But Saints boss Ian Millward is leaving that aspect to the Bulls - concentrating more on improving on last Friday's defeat.

Millward said: "We were rusty in some areas - our kicking game and some points of our attack. But there were also some good things and the scoreline does not reflect our effort and performance.

"We put a lot of pressure on ourselves with our kicking - the game is all about field position and creating and building pressure. That was not just the kickers themselves, but the people around them didn't help.

"Friday night was the most tackles we have had to make in a game since I have been at St Helens, but we still came up with a 90 per cent success rate in defence. We didn't miss many tackles.

"The best team won by a long way but there were still positives."

One of those positives was the form of veteran Aussie prop Darren Britt, continuing his good start to the season, and eating up the hard yards.

He will need to be on his mettle again this Friday, when Bulls coach Brian Noble unleashes his heavy artillery, including the biggest pack in the rugby league world.

"Friday is a huge game, not least because it is the two Grand Finalists. But as a coach I am looking for a big improvement and there are two points up for grabs."

There was hardly a whisker separating the clubs last season - Saints topped the table on points difference before taking the Grand Final off them in dramatic style.

Millward expects it to be the same again this term.

"The big factor will be injuries over the 28 weeks - it will be vital to see what we pick up. That is where the better teams will live or die on how far up the table you finish," he said.

"They seem to start favourites every year for everything. I am sure they will come here motivated by last year. They will talk about the Grand Final and something that happened in the last five seconds.

"I think it is good that they have motivation - but on Friday night nobody is going to sneak into our trophy room and take that Super League trophy of us. We keep that and the rings - no matter what they do.

"For us it is about how we improve from the Sydney City game - that is my aim. But for them their motivation, no matter what they say, will be a lot different."

Paul Wellens had another scan last week, and has been training all week, but may be left out until he gets the full go-ahead.

Saints are confident the game will beat the frost - and believe a combination of the changing temperature and equipment borrowed from Sky will soften up the ground.

The game is expected to be a 15,100 sell out - tickets are still on sale.

Saints ISSA hold their next meeting on Wednesday, February 26, 7.30pm in the Touchlines bar. New Aussie recruits Darren Smith and Jason Hooper will be present to talk to fans.

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Saints' Good Friday game with Wigan at the JJB has had it's kick off time confirmed at 12.35pm to tie in with Sky.