Rhinos endured draining 30 degree heat last Saturday evening, before a 10-hour return journey, involving two coach trips and a 150-minute flight, the following day.

Saints have had an extra day to prepare and no significant travelling after their 46-12 derby win at Wigan Warriors on Friday night.

But Sinfield insists the hard game in the south of France was exactly what Rhinos needed and he claims the weekend away was an ideal way to prepare for a semi-final.

"Last Saturday was obviously a bit of a pressure game, second v third and they are breathing right down our necks," said the Leeds captain.

"Not many teams have gone over there and got a win, we've seen how good they've been at home.

"In the first half it was red hot, but we toughed it out in the end and I think it was great preparation for us.

"We've just got to do the right things now and make sure we recover and prepare for Saturday, because we're going to have to come up with another effort like that."

Sinfield added: "It is great to spend that much time together when you win.

"It has been a couple of years since we managed to do that over there and it was a big shot in the arm.

"If you go over there and lose, then it's a difficult one.

"But the character we showed was great and the time we've spent together's been good.

"We've done a bit of travel and we had to cope with the heat, that all plays its part, but the guys coped really well."

Rhinos finished the game the stronger team, despite the foreign conditions and Sinfield said that was credit to the players' fitness.

"It was tough, Catalans are a different team over there," he said.

"They have got a great crowd behind them who are very partisan and noisy, but we toughed it out.

"We made some errors, it wasn't a pretty performance in a lot of ways, but the character of the guys came through.

"In the last 20, energy-wise we were miles in front. I thought our fitness levels really told."

Back-rower Jamie Jones-Buchanan is likely to miss the semi-final after tearing a hamstring in the first half against Catalans, but fellow forward Ian Kirke came through his first match in five months with no fitness problems.

"Kirky had a big game for us on Saturday, all the bench did," Sinfield said. "They all came on and put their hands up and that's what they're there for, to come on and make an impact, which they certainly did.

"It's great to see Kirky back. He's had a tough time, but the way he has looked after himself and trained while he's been out has been exemplary."

Rhinos' medical staff are still assessing Brent Webb (back) and Ryan Bailey (ankle), who both missed the trip to France through injury.

Meanwhile, Rhinos will today hear if star stand-off Danny McGuire will be available for the semi-final.

McGuire was due to appear before thre RFL disciplinary committee today accused of a high tackle in the win at Catalans. Maximum punishment for the offence is a four-game ban.

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RHINOS' engage Super League trip to Warrington Wolves has been brought forward a day to Saturday, August 2 (7.30pm).