SAINTS’ recent run of good form will face a stringent examination on Friday night at home to a so far unbeaten Wakefield side. Table-topping Trinity, who surprised everyone last year with a fifth placed finish, have already stuffed the significant scalp of champions Leeds into their belts this season.

And they will certainly turn up refreshed - while Saints were going 12-rounds toe-to-toe with Catalans, Wakefield had the weekend off having started the year earlier as part of the World Club Challenge preparations.

Coach Mick Potter said: “Wakefield are flying high with three from three. Having watched the video of them they are hard to stop and score against.

“They have a good defensive pattern and they are a team that can come up with tries from anywhere.

“Ben Jeffries and Danny Brough give them so many options that we are going to have to be on our defensive game to stop them.

“They have got some quality players and they have a coach in John Kear who knows how to break opposition down and he gets the best out of those players.”

Saints have doubts over prop James Graham and young wing Jonny Lomax, who both took heavy knocks to the head and will need to undergo a Cog test.

Lomax, who was knocked into the middle of last week by Olivier Elima’s flying shoulder to the head, is the bigger doubt.

Elima has been banned for one game – which hardly seems like a punishment given his victim faces a similar absence for having the audacity to show good footwork near the tryline. Back rower Chris Flannery will be absent for at least two more weeks with a shoulder tendon injury, along with longer term casualties Ade Gardner and Sia Soliola.

On the plus side Saints will have skipper Keiron Cunningham back on duty after missing two games due to a family bereavement.

A trio of forwards who picked up knocks in the bruising tussle in Perpignan will all play. Tony Puletua will line up despite some finger ligament damage, as will Nick Fozzard.

Jon Wilkin suffered a head cut which required several stitches but he will play wearing some head gear.

Wilkin will not be facing his old adversary Terry Newton.

The former Leeds, Wigan and Bradford hooker, who joined Wakefield at the end of last season, has been banned for two years after failing a drug test.

The news would rock many a club, but Trinity have faced worse adversity before and regrouped – and Friday will be no different.

Saints, however, are running a lot smoother than at the start of the season.

Having rattled in 80 points in their last two games, Saints have found a bit of confidence in their attacking game.

Potter said: “We are doing all those little things right.

“It is pleasing that we are scoring points because that does matter but the key focus is how well we perform and the accumulation of league points to get up the table.”

The game kicks off at 8pm and is not being televised.