Leeds captain Kevin Sinfield believes the departing Tony Smith will be regarded as the club's greatest coach should he guide the Rhinos to Grand Final victory over St Helens on Saturday.

Smith brings the curtain down on his four-year stay at Headingley Carnegie with the showpiece event, the third Grand Final of his tenure.

Leeds tasted victory against Bradford in 2004 before falling to defeat against the same opponents a year later.

Now, with the opportunity to land a second crown, Sinfield says Smith is on the verge of surmounting the achievements of greats such as Syd Hynes and Joe Warham.

"He's up there by a long way as the best coach I've ever played for," said the 27-year-old. "I'm sure he'll go down as one of Leeds' great coaches and if we can win it on Saturday he'll be the greatest ever. No doubt.

"He's transformed the whole club, he's been fantastic. He's changed things from top to bottom. He's taken us from the nearly men to title winners in the first year and this will be his third Grand Final in four, so it's obvious the amount of success that he's brought to the club.

"That's without winning the World Club Challenge and getting to the Challenge Cup final.

"It's not been spoken about that we should win it for Tony because I don't think that would be right, because it's not our only motivation as there are a lot of other things in there. But certainly it would be good to send him out on top."

After leaving Leeds, Smith will take over as Great Britain coach on a full-time basis, with his first commitment being the forthcoming test series against New Zealand.

Sinfield has been named in Smith's squad and is a likely candidate to start in the loose forward position, further underlining the relationship between captain and coach and the way Smith has helped develop Sinfield's game.

"For me personally he's brought my game on so much," admits Sinfield. "Not just the rugby side, because he's brought me on as a person and I think everyone in the squad will tell you that.

"The way he cares for his players is different class. He's certainly going to be missed by everyone including me but hopefully I'll get the chance to play for him at international level."

The main question mark for St Helens remains the fitness of mercurial scrum-half Sean Long.

The 31-year-old has been missing for a month with calf and hamstring injuries and if he does not pass a fitness test, then 21-year-old Matty Smith will deputise.

However, despite his age and lack of experience at the top level, Saints boss Daniel Anderson says he will have no hesitation in throwing Smith straight into the action.

"Of course he lacks experience but he's surrounded by old heads," he said.

"Leon Pryce is in his seventh Grand Final and he's 25 - that's ridiculous. "All the players I've got have been in four or five, even the 21-year-olds. Jason Cayless has been in three NRL Grand Finals, and two Super League."

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