By Ray French BBC Sport

St Helens coach Ian Millward says the fear of the unknown will give his side the extra edge to beat Sale Sharks in their cross-code challenge on Monday.

Millward wants another trophy in his cabinet

For he believes that getting to grips with the rival code will test the commitment of his players like no other pre-season match could have done.

"It is the fear of the unknown which will be the driving force for this match," said the most successful coach in Super League history.

"No one knows, neither we nor Sale, how the players will react to the challenge.

"We are all going into foreign areas, but we will be 100% committed."

Millward refutes criticism that the cross-code initiative is merely a money raising exercise for both clubs.

He insists the chance to take on one of the leading Zurich Premiership sides will provide his players with a far more difficult task than either Wigan or Warrington.

"We are putting our credibility on the line and are representing rugby league. We want to show people just what we can do," said the Australian.

"This match has put my players on edge more than any other match could have done.

"The game means a lot to us. Professional sportsmen constantly need new challenges.

We are putting our credibility on the line St Helens coach Ian Millward

"We have won many trophies in League in the past but we want to prove that we can also win in a different environment.

"When the cross-code challenge was first suggested, my players immediately insisted that, at the end of the 80 minutes play, there must be a winner and a loser.

"And we want to be that winner.

"But no-one knows how both teams will handle the unknown - and that is the exciting aspect to this match."