IT is do-or-die for Saints on Saturday night when they put their Super League trophy on the line in the sudden death Elimination play-off against the Leeds Rhinos at Knowsley Road (6.00pm).

Injuries have cast a long shadow over Saints' preparations for the 'business end' of the season and the reigning champions have taken only three points from the last five games of the regular season.

If that was bad enough Saints came out of Friday night's derby defeat with further injuries - Chris Joynt and Peter Shiels - adding to the doubts over Keiron Cunningham, David Fairleigh, Tony Stewart and the long term casualties.

After the Wigan defeat coach Ian Millward was playing his cards pretty close to his chest, but said: "We had eight players out for Wigan, they were all injured - I was not resting any players. Six of those will not play next week against Leeds."

He said the inspirational hard yard maker Fairleigh was unlikely to play, and out of Friday's absentees only John Stankevitch was certain to line up.

Leeds scored a big psychological victory a fortnight ago with a win at Knowsley Road in a game that would have been instantly forgettable had it not been for Sonny Nickle's late tackle on the Rhinos' Aussie hooker Robbie Mears, which left the latter with a broken jaw and saw the former earn a six month ban.

At the time of going to press Saints were appealing against the ban. Having lost several players through late or high tackles this season - Peter Shiels (broken cheekbone v. Leeds), Mick Higham (broken cheekbone v. Salford) and Sean Long (late tackle v. Huddersfield) you would expect Saints to be at the forefront of moves to punish foul play. As bad as Nickle's challenge was, you can understand the frustration when the clampdown seemingly only kicks in when a Saints player comes up before the disciplinary panel.