St Helens will look to bolster their Super League play-off hopes when they travel to the York Community Stadium on Saturday to take on York Knights.
Saints are hovering just outside the top six on 24 points, which is level with sixth-placed Hull Kingston Rovers.
St Helens still have plenty of time left to mount their charge, but the recent departure of head coach Paul Rowley has thrown a spanner in the works.
Saints fell to a 38-16 defeat against rivals Wigan Warriors last week, but they will travel to Yorkshire expecting to beat a York team who have lost successive games to weaker opposition.
The visitors have already outclassed York twice this season and the Knights have little to play for, having claimed 12 points from 20 games.
York Knights v St Helens Tips Summary
Best Bet - Winning margin 4-way - St Helens 1-12 points @ 2/1
Alternative Bet - To win both halves - Neither team @ 8/11
Bet Builder - Team to score last - York Knights & Jack Welsby to score a try @ 11/2
York Knights v St Helens Prediction
Best Bet: Winning margin 4-way - St Helens 1-12 points @ 2/1
York looked to have turned a corner at the end of June as they recorded three consecutive victories in Super League.
Mark Applegarth started to get a tune out of his team, but it is tough to ignore that all three of those victories came against teams in the bottom five.
The Knights fell to a disappointing 30-22 defeat against Toulouse Olympique earlier this month, which helped the French club move two points ahead of them in the table.
Applegarth's side then fell to a 22-24 defeat last week against rock-bottom Huddersfield Giants and they were sloppy in attack against the worst team in the division.
It seems it is a case of one step forward two steps back for the Super League minnows and that inability to kill teams off should come back to bite them this weekend.
St Helens were well beaten by Wigan last week, but a 34-18 success over Catalans Dragons two weeks ago suggests they still have the firepower needed to overcome York.
York have only won four times at home all season and while St Helens have what it takes to collect two points, their recent performances suggest they will not be able to blow the Knights away.
Alternative Bet: To win both halves - Neither team @ 8/11
St Helens may have put 40 points on York in two successive meetings this season, but both of those games were played in Merseyside.
To York's credit, they are tough to keep quiet. The Knights have scored 20 points or more in six successive games and in eight of their last 10.
With that in mind, it is tough to see St Helens winning both halves.
York Knights v St Helens Bet Builder Tip
Team to score last - York Knights
Jack Welsby to score a try
Pays @ 11/2
York have the superior options off the bench and that should help them stay competitive in this tie. St Helens have already proven they can outclass their hosts.
However, York have proved to be stubborn all season and even when they are losing heavily, they keep trying until the very end.
St Helens will welcome prop Alex Walmsley back this week and he should help Saints build a lead in this game, but York's home advantage and gutsy attitude mean they have every chance of scoring the last try.
The Knights defence will do well to keep Saints ace Jack Welsby quiet. He has led by example in recent weeks and his five tries in as many appearances suggest he is worth backing in the anytime tryscorer market.
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Key Match Stats
York Knights have lost successive matches in Super League
The Knights have lost seven of their 11 home games this season in all competitions
St Helens have lost five of their last eight games away from home in Super League
St Helens are undefeated in their last 19 meetings with York
York's last victory against St Helens came in April 1946
St Helens playmaker Jack Welsby has scored five tries in five games
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
