HULL KR stand-off Travis Burns says they enter Sunday's clash with defending Super League champions Leeds on a high after their Challenge Cup win over St Helens last weekend.
The Robins are in a rich vein of form, having won six of their last nine matches in both competitions.
And with Burns insistent the Rhinos are once again the team to beat this season, he says going into the contest with spirits high is key.
"We are doing well at the moment and hopefully we can climb the ladder further," Burns told the Mail.
"Our defence has improved and there are plenty of positives to take from the Saints win into this game.
"Leeds are the benchmark of the competition, they are the best team in Super League.
"They are very clinical as they complete their sets regularly, and we are going to have to be on top of our game if we are to beat them."
Burns, who returned from a shoulder injury and a two-match ban for the Saints game, is key to the Robins finding that best form.
Rovers have won five of six with the Aussie in their side, and he is hoping to maintain that kind of form firstly against Leeds, and then Castleford, before KR continue their Challenge Cup bid against league leaders Wigan next month.
"The next round of the cup is a few weeks away, but we'll be looking for a few wins to take into that game," he said.
"It may have been an ugly win against St Helens but we are through to the next round and that's all that counts."
Burns' return against Saints proved how important he is to the Robins' right hand side attack, which is much less experienced than the left.
But he plays down suggestions he is a mentor to the likes of Alex Brown, Omari Caro and Liam Salter, who have all featured on that side of the pitch this season.
"I don't know about being a mentor, I bring experience and I try to bring talk and enthusiasm to that side and hope it helps the younger players out," he said.
"The right edge is a bit inexperienced and if I can bring some talk to them then all well and good.
"Liam Salter's talking was very good against Saints.
"Once you rev some of the young players up, they start talking and that shores up the right hand side."• AS first reported here yesterday, Rovers have signed Huddersfield outside back Luke George on a month's loan.
