The Bulls may be in red-hot attacking form right now but defence will be the key to beating second-placed St Helens on Sunday.

The second-most potent attacking side in Super League, the Bulls have racked up 40 points in five of their last six matches.

But shutting down the equally dangerous Saints is coach Brian Noble's top priority as the Bulls look to back up the success at Hull with another win against a side above them in the table.

"We have scored a lot of points this year. We are a good attacking team and we know that," said Noble.

"But we have to stay focused defensively because this is a massive challenge. It is a good challenge for us. It is important that we double up Saturday's effort. It is about consistently doing the right things, consistently making the right plays, not over-playing and not under-playing."

Victory would see the Bulls pull within four points of Saints and go some way to avenging the gut-wrenching 34-27 Easter Monday loss at Knowsley Road.

Noble, who called the players in for training on Monday's bank holiday and put them through a torrid workout Tuesday, is determined there will be no slacking off in the build-up to the first game between the sides in the post-Ian Millward era.

Both sides were due to name their 20-man squads today, with the expected absence of Saints skipper Paul Sculthorpe the main talking point.

The recently named Great Britain skipper suffered a fresh hamstring injury in Friday's victory over Leeds and is not expected to be risked.