CASTLEFORD’S England international Adam Milner is hoping his team can make a statement by becoming the first to beat Super League leaders St Helens at the Jungle tonight.

Saints are the only team with a 100 per cent record after six rounds but a Tigers victory would enable them to draw level at the top of the table and demonstrate genuine title credentials.

“They’re setting the benchmark at the minute and they’ve been very consistent over the last two years,” Milner said.

“So it’s going to be a massive challenge for us, the biggest we’ve had this year, but it’s one the boys are certainly looking forward to.

“It’s a statement game for us. To knock them off, we’ll have to be really good but, if we can come away with the two points, it would be massive, it will show where we’re at as a team.

“The game is being marketed as Classy Cas v the Entertainers, which it is. Both teams like to play attractive football.”

Castleford are boosted by the return from suspension of prop Grant Millington, while Milner and fellow England forward Oliver Holmes both made their return from injury in last Sunday’s 24-20 win over Salford.

“We’ve been down to the bare bones but we’ve still been managing to pick up the two points, which is a sign of a good team,” Milner said.

“We’ve got a few bodies back now so there’s certainly no excuses from us this week and we’re confident we can get the job done.

“Millo is a fantastic player and we’re looking forward to having him back. He adds a lot of experience and gives us a different dimension on attack. We’ve missed him the last two weeks.”

Milner says coach Daryl Powell has come up with a plan to end Saints’ unbeaten record and knows exactly where the leaders’ strength lies.

“They have an international front row,” he said. “James Roby is a massive player for them and he’s got them two big front-rowers to play off the back of.

“It’s going to be important we get the better of their forward pack.
“We’ve spent all week looking at their games. We’ve got a plan and it’s up to us the execute it.”

Saints won all four meetings between the two clubs in 2018 but England centre Mark Percival says they will be taking nothing for granted.

“Throughout my career, I’ve found it a tough place to go,” Percival said.

“They’re going real good this year so it will be a good test. They have always been a dangerous team with a lot of good individuals but this year they are defending well as a team.”

St Helens coach Justin Holbrook has used just 20 players so far this year and is set to stick with the team that beat Huddersfield last Friday.