AFTER finally overtaking the Bradford Bulls having stalked them for the best part of the year - league leaders Saints will be in no mood to relinquish pole position when they take on Leeds Rhinos on Friday night. (8pm).

Saints, who have a two point lead over Bradford and three over Wigan, are likely to field the 17 as last week, with slight doubts over Darren Albert.

The flying wingman Albert, who has not missed a game this season, was stretchered off with a trapped nerve during last week's win over Halifax. He missed training earlier this week, but coach Ian Millward was confident he will play against the Rhinos.

Millward is delighted with the way his players have stuck to their task in the second half of the season - losing just one game.

"It is not a question of what the other teams do - if we win our four remaining games we will finish top," he said.

"We have all got a tough run in and if we drop one we will finish second, drop two and we will put ourselves under more pressure. We set ourselves a goal at the start of the season to finish in the top two.

"It is quite an incredible feat what we have done to turn 230-odd points deficit into a 44 points plus. Although I have said points difference is not an issue, it is pleasing to see us average 60 points in our last three games, and deny the opposition scoring too."

After blowing hot and cold Daryl Powell's Leeds side have shown some good form over the last fortnight and will be keen to avenge three defeats inflicted on them by Saints this season. They will be without the suspended Barrie McDermott

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CENTRE Martin Gleeson's tooth has finally turned up three weeks after it was knocked out during the Super League match at Wigan.

The tooth was found embedded in Jamie Ainscough's infected arm, which gives an indication of the force of the initial blow. Although the incident was placed on report, the disciplinary panel declared the Wigan centre had no case to answer.

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SAINTS' crunch game with Wigan at the JJB game has moved back to Sunday, September 8 to tie in with Sky scheduling.

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FOUR Saints players have been included in a 30-man England A squad to train for the game against New Zealand in London on October 30. They are Mike Bennett, Mark Edmondson, Ade Gardner and Mick Higham.

GB hooker Keiron Cunningham has been selected in the Welsh squad to face the tourists at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday, November 3.

Academy players Liam McGovern, Bruce Johnson and Stephen Rowlands have been named in the GB Academy under 18s training squad which is preparing to take on the Australian Schoolboys in December. Three-quarter Rowlands is currently recovering from a broken hand.

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SAINTS are still being linked with Hull KR's young back rower Jon Wilkin, who is set to move across the Pennines this year to study at Manchester University.