T&A Rugby League reporter Nigel Askham previews tonight's crucial Grand Final play-off clash between Bradford Bulls against St Helens at Knowsley Road.

Saints coach Shaun McRae believes defence will be the key if he is to win the tactical battle with opposite number Matthew Elliott at Knowsley Road.

In flying winger Antony Sullivan, ex-Odsal centre Paul Newlove and young gun half-back Sean Long, McRae believes they have the pace out wide to match any in Super League.

But their defensive record is the worst in the top five, and McRae knows it could be his side's downfall.

"I always feel we have the ability to score enough points, but we go soft in defence too often and we have to toughen up starting tonight.

"Wigan and Leeds are the form sides going into the play-offs, but, at various stages throughout the League programme, Bradford, Halifax and ourselves have demonstrated their ability and no-one can be taken for granted.

"We have had some great battles with Bradford, including two sudden-death affairs in Challenge Cup finals and both sides are packed with players who know what it takes to succeed."

Meanwhile, Saints captain Chris Joynt is calling on his players to give the popular McRae the best possible send-off with an appearance in the inaugural Super League Grand Final.

McRae, who steered Saints to back-to-back Wembley victories against the Bulls in 1996 and 1997, as well as the first Super League title two years ago, bows out at Knowsley Road at the end of the season.

McRae, who is to take Gateshead into Super League next year following Saints' decision not to renew his contract with them, transformed the club from nearly men into champions. And Joynt wants the team to repay the Australian by booking an appearance at Old Trafford on October 24.

"We want to finish on a high for Shaun," said Joynt. "He's been good for the club and the players want to do well not just for themselves but for Shaun.

"He should take a lot of the credit for what we've achieved at Saints. He has turned the club around from when he arrived."

After finishing outside the top three, Saints are condemned to playing knockout football and would have to beat every team above them to clinch the title. It's a big ask for McRae's men although, with seven wins and a draw from their last nine League games, they go into the play-offs as arguably the form team.

"I have to admit that over the last couple of months we've been fairly consistent and we've played some good rugby league. But that will count for nothing when we turn up tonight," said McRae.

Saints are bolstered by the return of Tommy Martyn, Julian O'Neill and Brett Goldspink to a full-strength line-up.

If the Bulls are to defy the odds and take on the winners of Sunday's qualifying play-off between Leeds and Halifax, they will need to come up with a plan to stop free-scoring winger Sullivan, who has scorched in for eight tries in his last two games to take over as the League's top try scorer.

It promises to be a bruising affair up front too and with pace in short supply, establishing dominance up front will be the key to the Bulls chances of success.

'You are just fan-tastic'

The Bulls are urging fans to make the trip to Knowsley Road to underline their standing as the best supporters in Super League.

Saints crowds have been down below the 5,000 mark recently as fans have been voting with their feet following rows behind the scenes and visiting fans may not be outnumbered by too many if the backing for the Bulls in recent weeks continues.

Coach Matthew Elliott said: "The fans have been magnificent over the last few weeks and I am sure that they will be there in great numbers tonight.

"What this club has achieved in the last few years is very much down to the special relationship between the players and supporters. Tonight gives them an opportunity to further enhance their relationship and it would be fantastic if our fans could outnumber them on their own ground.

"It really would give us a big push for the next round," he added.

First try for the golden score rule

Play-off ties in the JJB Super League Grand Final series could be decided by a 'golden' score.

An extra ten minutes each way will be played if the scores are level after 80 minutes and League officials have decided that, if there is still deadlock, play will re-start and end with the next score.

It would be the first time the sudden-death rule, borrowed from the 'golden goal' in soccer, has operated in the domestic game.

It was witnessed for the first time in Brisbane last year when Noel Goldthorpe scored a drop goal after almost four minutes of sudden-death time to give New South Wales a 23-22 victory over Queensland in the Super League Tri-Series final.

Tonight's winners will visit the losers of Sunday's Headingley derby between Leeds Rhinos and Halifax Blue Sox. It will be played next Friday with a 7.30pm kick-off.

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