SAINTS head to Hull FC on Sunday (3pm) in the first of a run of five games that coach Mike Rush has targeted as ones they must win to fight their way into the top four.

Although bitterly disappointed with the defensive effort at Manchester’s Magic event, which saw the Saints slump to their third defeat to Wigan since he assumed the coaching reins, Rush says he is not dwelling on that loss.

And although some changes will have to be made due to injury and suspension, Rush has ruled out making wholesale chopping in response to the hammering.

Ade Gardner is out with a knee injury and will be replaced by impressive young wingman Tommy Makinson, who is fit again after being carried off at Leeds.

Shaun Magennis has been suspended for three matches for his part in the brawl against Wigan and his place should be taken by Mark Flanagan, who is running again after picking up an ankle injury at Leeds.

Saints also have doubts over Australian prop Anthony Laffranchi, who didn’t reappear in the second of the Wigan clash.

Teenage centre Josh Jones, who had an impressive run in the team in spring, could also be set for a return to the squad, but further extensive chopping and changing have been ruled out.

Rush said: “Six days before the Wigan game we were the best thing since sliced bread.

“There is still only one team that has beaten us – and we will get our chance against them again in September – but we have not become rubbish overnight.

“At the end of the day Wigan were very good for 25 minutes and we probably had the worst defensive display since we took over.

“Wigan were red hot and took every opportunity that came their way. We had a day like that not so long ago against Leeds and then backed that up at Warrington. You don’t get them every week but when it happens, it is hard to stop.

“There were two one-on-one missed tackles to start and that put us 12-0 behind and then it created panic and we didn’t work too hard as a collective and players tried to solve things themselves.

“The fact that people were trying to solve it themselves showed willingness to whack someone, even if it did harm us. A couple of lads underperformed defensively and that is what cost us.

“Changes may have to come because of injuries but that will limit any other changes I can make, because I won’t make five or six changes on the basis of one game because that won’t help us.”

The fans have reacted badly to Sunday’s defeat - their heaviest against the Warriors since the end of 2001 – and some players have been subjected to abuse via social media networks.

But coach Rush asked for the game to be put into some perspective, with plenty of rugby still to come.

“Defeat by Wigan does not create any doubts in our minds. It may do for some fans – but if you look at last year we drew with Wigan at the Millennium, lost on Good Friday and in the Challenge Cup semi-final but we still made the Grand Final. We can’t predict what is going to happen in October in May,” Rush said.

“For me it how far we have come since we have taken over and how many league points we have got since then.

“Yes, it is disappointing that we are out of the cup and we lost on Sunday, but we can’t dwell on it. Losing to Wigan hurts, but at the end of the day losing two points is not the end of the world.

“We have the opportunity still to get enough points to get in the top four, and if teams take points off each other, it is not beyond us to finish in the top two.

“We just need to put a run of games together and have the personnel to do that. Players will have a dip in form and part of your job as coach is to stand by people at times and help them work on their game.”

Going to the KC Stadium on Sunday will be tough, especially since the Black and Whites are smarting from their defeat by local rivals Hull KR at the Magic weekend, with the penultimate try coming from a pass a proverbial mile forward.

Rush said: “It is always hard the KC and they will be smarting because they got pipped in the last minute by their arch rivals.

“The weekend’s results make Sunday a really big game for us.

“If we are to get into the top four Hull are one of the team we need to get out of the way.

“After that we play Bradford, Salford, Hull KR and Widnes. These are five games and we are targeting to win the lot.

“Then let’s see where we are because in that time the top four are playing each other, so teams will take points off each other – either that or we’ll see the top two will break away.”