Boss tips former club St Helens for Cup

"I think that Saints will prove too strong for the Catalans Dragons," said Stankevitch, who played in two Challenge Cup finals for the Lancashire giants before having to quit the game with a shoulder injury at the age of 25.

"I think that Saints players will have too much big-time experience for the French side and I fancy them to win with something to spare.

Meanwhile, former Dons club captain Craig Lawton has credited Stankevitch for his return to something approaching his best form.

"I think this has been my worst season since I turned professional," said the strong-running forward this week.

"I went to speak to John after he had been here for a week or two and told him that I wasn't happy with my game.

"We went through some videos and we talked about my game and I think that I am playing a lot better know.

"I think if we had had John as coach earlier in the season, I think we might have stayed up - just look how quickly he turned us into a competitive side.

"He is definitely one of the best coaches that I have ever worked with. With him having played for Saints and Widnes at Super League level, and only having retired fairly recently, his coaching ideas and his training drills are bang up to date.

"I certainly feel that he is the man to get us promoted back to League One next season - though I don't think it will be as easy as some people seem to think it will be because there are some good teams in the division."