Sinfield lines up quick route to final

Kevin Sinfield admits there were times when the prospect of taking on St Helens filled the Leeds Rhinos with trepidation.

Sinfield, the Leeds' captain for the past five seasons, said: "If you go back a few years I think we were in fear of them and we certainly suffered some heavy defeats."

But tonight, when Leeds arrive at Knowsley Road to take on the engage Super League champions in the first qualifying semi-final of the play-offs, there will be no fear, just respect.

Sinfield said: "St Helens are the benchmark. Success is measured in silverware and they have been head and shoulders above the rest of us for the last two seasons.

"Daniel Anderson has had a massive impact as coach and they have produced their own players as well as making some great signings. But we have beaten them twice this year, home and away, and if we turn up in the right frame of mind we can do the job."

The job is taking the shortest route to next month's Grand Final at Old Trafford as a long club season nears its climax.

Whoever wins tonight will enjoy another week off, while the losers face a final eliminator a week today at home to the winners of tomorrow's sudden death play-off between Hull and Wigan.

The safety net afforded to the teams finishing first and second in the regular season — Saints pipped Leeds by a point — is not the reason the Rhinos and their record-breaking captain are confident.

Sinfield, 27, who has scored in every round of Super League this season, believes Leeds are still under-achieving despite having the biggest fan base.

This season's average attendance, 17,558, is their highest since World War Two.

Sinfield said: "Our coach, Tony Smith, transformed us from nearly men to Grand Final winners and we got to the final again two years ago. But we want to do better.

"Tony is leaving at the end of the season to become the full-time Great Britain coach. What better way for him to go out than after another Grand Final win? The year we won at Old Trafford, against Bradford in 2004, was pretty special. We had a real hunger and I can sense that in us again."

Leeds were given a boost on the eve of tonight's match when St Helens lost Sean Long and Maurice Fa'asavalau, both ruled out after late fitness tests.