"That match at Twicken-ham" hasn't figured in the Bulls preparation but skipper Robbie Paul insists it's a big motivational factor for tomorrow's top-five showdown with St Helens.

"I am looking forward to it for the obvious reason of being able to get one back on them for the Challenge Cup final. There hasn't been that much talk about the Twickenham game itself but there doesn't really need to be.

"Brian (Noble) has hardly mentioned it in his preparations but he knows how disappointed the players were with their performance in the cup final.

"Everyone is carrying their own wounds from the game. I have never even seen a video of the game and don't particu-larly want to either but the motivation for tomorrow is clear enough."

The contest promises to be as fierce as ever but Robbie faces a different challenge following news that Saints scrum-half Sean Long will miss the rest of the season with a cruciate knee ligament injury.

"The loss of Long is a huge blow to them and they are going to have to do some reshuffling to cover such a huge hole.

"They have Tommy Martyn still missing two and the halves - probably Paul Sculthorpe and Paul Wellens - will be under pressure. They have some big shoes to fill.

"Martyn and Long are a great partnership and they know how to play for each other. The little things they do well together are big things for their team.

"They say Long is out for the rest of the season but there is something about that spirit to get back on the field that means sometimes you can amaze yourself with the speed of recovery. I certainly wouldn't be surprised to see him again in the play-offs.

"His injury is all the better for us I guess but they have good players from one to 17 and there is never an easy game against them.

"These big games are the important ones to win because these are the sides you are trying to finish above to get that extra advantage in the play-offs.

"The other games you kind of bank on winning. I know we got stung at Wakefield but that could be a blessing for us as the season progresses because we won't be taking anyone lightly again.

"We have to be happy with the way things are going. At this point in the season we wanted to be top and we are determined to try to stay there."