Bulls chairman Chris Caisley fears a St Helens backlash at Valley Parade on Friday night.

Saints boss Ian Millward made it his pre-season mission to become the first club to beat the Bulls in their new home in Super League.

And after their 54-22 drubbing in April - when St Helens famously fielded a weakened team ahead of the Challenge Cup final and were fined for it - their controversial chief will be doubly determined to steal the show.

Caisley said: "This will be the real St Helens. They rested Paul Sculthorpe at the weekend just for this game and they will come to Valley Parade really fired up.

"I'm sure they will also use the motivational aspect about what happened last time. I know Saints felt badly done to as a consequence of what happened and I'm sure that will feature large in their team talks this week.

"That will just make for a special match between the top two teams. I don't think there is a bigger game in rugby league at the moment and I'm confident it will bring in our biggest crowd of the season."

Brian Noble's side are currently two points clear of their rivals with six games of the regular season remaining. But with a slightly tougher run-in, there is no room for a slip-up.

Caisley added: "We've still got to go to Leeds and Hull as well as play Wigan at home so it's not going to be easy. If we can win on Friday it gives us a four-point gap and a bit of a cushion.

"Obviously the incentive is there for Saints to draw level especially as on paper, they have the easier looking games to come.

"Ian Millward has said one of his aims is to knock off our unbeaten tag at home this year. This could be his last chance unless we meet again in the play-offs."

Bulls' junior academy side saw their hopes of a championship final place shot down by Hull. Their ten-match unbeaten league run came to an abrupt end in the last four with a 42-28 defeat as the exertions of a tough win over Leeds five days earlier took their toll.

The Bulls led 18-8 midway through the first half after tries from Richard Johnson, Lee Smith and Lee Simpson were all converted by Ryan Collins.

But Hull hit back strongly to lead 24-18 at the break. And despite second-half efforts from Collins and Karl Pryce, Hull finished on top to book a final place against Wigan at Rams Stadium, Dewsbury.

They drew 27-27 with Leeds at Headingley but went through to Saturday's game as the away team.

The Bulls play Halifax Blue Sox in a senior academy

game at Ovenden Park

tonight.