Saints full-back Paul Wellens is urging his team-mates to ignore Hull's position in the Super League table and expect Saturday's Carnegie Challenge Cup final to be one of their most difficult matches of the season.
Hull are languishing second from bottom of the league after winning just eight out of 26 matches in an injury-hit campaign but have the chance to end the year with one of the only two major trophies up for grabs.
It is three years since Hull spran
g a surprise by beating Leeds in the cup final while they were runners-up to Saints in the 2006 Grand Final - and that is the team Wellens is anticipating facing at Wembley.
''We know Hull are a great side,'' he said. ''They are probably a top-four team with everybody fit and playing well.
''We're preparing for the Hull we've played over the last few years, not the Hull lying 11th in the table because the personnel has not changed that much. They've got internationals throughout their squad.
''We've got quality in our team as well and I think it's more about concentrating on what we can do rather than worrying about Hull.''
Wellens, who shared the Lance Todd Trophy as man of the match with Leon Pryce in Saints' win over Catalans Dragons a year ago, will be appearing in his sixth Challenge Cup final but insists he has lost none of his hunger or excitement as the holders seek to live up to high expectations.
''I'm really excited and looking forward to it,'' he said. ''The older you get, the more you appreciate it. It's going to be a special weekend.
''People expect so much - we've created that expectation with the way we've been performing in recent years - but that's a good place to be.
''We've got players used to performing on the big stage and hopefully that will work in our favour.''
Saints, of course, are aiming to become only the second team behind Wigan to complete a hat-trick of cup final triumphs.
Hull will be hoping to go one better than Huddersfield and Catalans Dragons, who were competitive for half an hour before bowing to the inevitable in the previous two finals, but Wellens insists pressure is never far away from the favourites.
''Last year was difficult for us because nobody expected Catalans to win,'' he said. ''There was so much pressure around us in the build-up and there was more relief than anything at the end of the game.
''We're on a winning streak at the moment and we're doing the right things and preparing well.''
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