Leeds will draw on history but not rely on it, maintains McDermott

If they lose at Headingley their season is over but victory would see them move to within 80 minutes of an incredible sixth Grand Final in only seven years.

The West Yorkshire club must respond after losing their opening play-off in a disappointing manner, going down 40-20 at Warrington last Saturday.

They have demonstrated such an ability in the past, actually winning the title in 2004, 2007 and again the following year having slipped up early on.

But McDermott warned: “It would be foolish to expect a good performance just because we played poorly last weekend.

“It’s an obvious thing to say, but we have to go through a process to ensure that happens – that we have a reaction.

“We realise what’s at stake, but at the same time we don’t fear it – we don’t go into the game with anxiety. To quote one of the players, ‘we can’t have a fear of losing’.

“We have got to play how we’ve been playing for the last almost three months. There’s a few things we’ve got to cover off and one of them is not just presuming we will come good.”

Obviously, Leeds have become renowned for doing just that after winning Super League five times in the last six years alone, illustrating their dominance in the summer era.

Utilising past experience will help them overcome difficult opponents this evening but McDermott maintained: “It is more of a benefit in preparation for a game than in the game itself.

“The game itself is going to come down to some things you have got to do. You have got to make sure you do some things right and if you don’t you end up losing the ruck, losing collisions and missing tackles you shouldn’t miss.

“Your actual experience of previous years has little benefit once the game kicks off, but it does in preparation for it.

“We know Saints will come confident after their victory over Hull KR and we expect nothing other than a very good St Helens.”

It is only the second time the clubs have met in the play-offs at Headingley, Leeds emerging victorious 44-16 in the 1998 Final Eliminator when they went on to lose to Wigan Warriors in the inaugural Old Trafford showpiece.

Third-placed Leeds have won the title from fifth spot in each of the last two seasons, something 
St Helens are now trying to emulate.

McDermott may be forced to make one change to his side if Danny McGuire fails to come through a fitness check on the ankle he twisted at Warrington.

If Leeds do prosper, they will not find out who their semi-final opponents are until the much-maligned ClubCall on Sunday lunchtime.

It is Warrington who have the power to decide who they host in the last four – either the winners of this evening’s game or Huddersfield Giants with the other heading to Wigan.