WIDNES Vikings travel to St Helens in a buoyant mood on Friday night after completing the double over last year’s champions Leeds.

And they are on a mission to climb as high as they can from the 10 games they are likely to have for the remainder of the year.

Although Vikings’ top eight status is not mathematically secured, it would take a run of three defeats combined with a a maximum return from either Salford, Hull KR or Huddersfield to displace them.

Coach Denis Betts said: “We are looking up. The conversation we had with the team today was we have 10 games and 20 points to play for and anything is possible, let the other sides take care of themselves.

“If we go out there and pick the majority of those — like we have shown -— we have beaten Leeds twice, should have beaten Wigan twice, beaten Hull and Huddersfield and two points off beating Warrington in the cup, we go to St Helens in a buoyant mood and these are points we think we believe we can get.

“That is the confidence we have moving forward about how high we can finish.

“As a club, we don’t want to be in that 6,7,8,9,10 category — but if you look at our salary cap and the team that is probably where we are.

“My job, with recruitment, is to keep pushing and to make us a 2,3,4,5 — and keep pushing into that area.”

Friday night’s game sees them pitched against a Saints side that has score 40 plus points in their last two outing as they desperately cling to hopes of making the top four.

For all their difficulties Betts reckons Vikings will need to be at their best to secure the spoils at Langtree Park.

“They have had a tough time with injuries in the halves, but they have been able to put Jordan Turner and Jon Wilkin in there — two players with good kicking and passing games who love to compete.

“James Roby and Jonny Lomax are playing well too, so you look at their side and conclude that we have got to be the best we can be to get the result we desire,” Betts said.

The fixture comes at an interesting time given the speculation suggesting Kevin Brown was a target for his home town club - St Helens.

Betts understood the speculation - particularly given Saints’ ambitions to be in Challenge Cup finals and Grand Finals.

“If I was at another club I’d be keen on taking Kevin Brown too.

“Half backs are a rare commodity and you saw that when they (Saints) went out and spent close to £100,000 on Travis Burns and it didn’t work for them.

“Kev is a particularly good half back.

“We have a side in the middle that people will want to peck at, especially our good players. It has already happened with Rhys Hanbury, Joe Mellor, Lloyd White and Alex Gerard.

“Kev is in the international set up.”

In injury news hooker Aaron Heremaia will not play after taking a head knock at Leeds on Sunday.

The medical protocols dictate that a five-day turnaround is insufficient time.

Saints have a similar situation with wing Adam Swift missing after his clash of heads on Sunday.

Vikings have named prop Greg Burke, 23, who they secured from Wigan on a two-and-a-half-year deal.

He has already joined the club and trained yesterday.

Saints: 1. Jonny Lomax, Saints 3. Jordan Turner, 4. Mark Percival, 7. Luke Walsh, 8. Alex Walmsley, 9. James Roby, 10. Kyle Amor, 11. Atelea Vea, 12. Jon Wilkin, 13. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 15. Greg Richards, 17. Luke Thompson, 20. Joe Greenwood, 21. Matty Dawson, 22. Jack Owens, 23. Shannon McDonnell, 24. Matty Fleming, 27. Jack Ashworth, 28. Morgan Knowles.

Widnes:1. Rhys Hanbury, 2. Corey Thompson, 4. Charly Runciman, 5. Patrick Ah Van, 6. Kevin Brown, 7. Joe Mellor, 9. Lloyd White, 10. Manase Manuokafoa, 11. Chris Houston, 13. Hep Cahill, 14. Chris Dean, 17. Stefan Marsh, 18. Gil Dudson, 19. Macgraff Leuluai, 22. Matt Whitley, 24. James Chapelhow, 32. Connor Farrell, 36. Jack Buchanan, 37. Greg Burke.