ST. HELENS coach Shaun McRae is banking on his side's remarkable cup record to take them all the way in the Super League play-offs.

The team have only lost once in the Challenge Cup during McRae's three year reign at the club, going out to Wigan this year after winning it in 1997 and 1996.

Tonight, Friday, they face the team they beat in both finals, Bradford Bulls, as the inaugural play-offs get under way with a £250,000 pot at stake.

McRae said: "We're basically playing knock-out football from this point and that's an area where we've got a lot of winning experience. Our cup record should keep us in good shape in what promises to be a very tough competition.

"The top three get another bite of the cherry but there are no second chances for us. I don't need to motivate players for this because everyone knows it's all or nothing from this point.

"We've had some wonderful clashes with Bradford both at Wembley and in the league and I'm sure this game will be of a similar ilk.

"The play-offs should be a great advert for the intensity and ferocity of Rugby League and this promises to be a good opener for that.

"If Saints and Bradford have finished fourth and fifth in the league this year then it shows that anyone can win this competition."

Bradford will be bolstered by the return of a number of key players tonight.

Stuart Spruce, Mike Forshaw and Brian McDermott are all fit while Howard Harvey and James Lowes are both expected to pass late fitness tests.

Tahi Reihana was found not guilty of assault on Tuesday and will also be available.

Still missing are Tevita Vaikona, Warren Jowitt, Danny Peacock, Sonny Nickle, Paul Anderson and Bernard Dwyer.

McRae has all his squad available with the exception of prop Ian Pickavance who has been ruled out for at least two weeks after undergoing arthroscope surgery on a knee injury on Wednesday.

The coach said: "The attrition rate is very important now. If you've got 19 or 20 fit players to call on over the next month and they stay in shape then you're going to be in contention.

"At this time of year it's inevitable that players at every club will be carrying niggling injuries but the important thing is to avoid copping the serious stuff.

"Bradford have had injury problems but they'll be looking to have their best squad out for this game and if that means giving a few guys injections, then that's the way it goes.

"They're a strong, physical side and they won't be letting up on that. The play-offs are about supreme effort and great courage if you want to win."

Despite the formidable task ahead of playing four sudden death games on successive weekends if Saints are to win the play-offs, McRae is confident that it can be done.

He said: "I was with Canterbury in 1995 when they won the Grand Final from fourth place and they got to the final this year from finishing ninth so it's all open at this stage.

"The top three are in the better situation but when it comes down to 80 minutes on the pitch between two teams, then a lot of that goes out of the window. You need an ounce of luck along the way as well to get there."

McRae has quit as Great Britain technical coach to concentrate his energies on Saints and future club Gateshead.

He has worked as Andy Goodway's right hand man for the last 12 months but feels his time is becoming too stretched in the run-up to the Test series with New Zealand.

"It's a personal decision, there hasn't been any pressure from anywhere. I feel I need to devote my time to Saints during the play-offs and after that there is a lot to be done in Gateshead and devoting three weeks to the Great Britain camp would be very difficult," he said.

Utility forward Karle Hammond has signed up for London Broncos next season but remains part of the St. Helens squad while they are involved in the play-offs.

Ian Pickavance is in talks with Huddersfield Giants about the possibility of joining former teammate Bobbie Goulding at the McAlpine Stadium.

Saints are being strongly linked with Auckland Warriors centre Kevin Iro, who will be coming over with the Kiwi Test squad at the end of the month.

Former Wigan stand off Nigel Wright has also been rumoured to be interested in joining the club after recovering from a persistent ankle injury.

Tonight's game will be broadcast on Sky television from 7.30pm. The Leeds and Halifax match will be shown at 6.35pm on Sunday.

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