St Helens can keep their Super League top two ambitions alive if they beat an injury-stricken Hull FC on Friday night, whilst the Black and Whites know they’ll need a win in one of these next few tough games if they’re to hold on to their top six position.
Saints are just two points shy of Wigan Warriors who sit second and are currently in line for the all-important home play-off semi-final, however, Paul Wellens’ side will face Matt Peet’s team in Round 25 meaning they will have a chance to strike.
To keep matters in their own hands, they’ll have to win their remaining five games starting with Friday’s game against Hull FC who are fending off a play-off push from Wakefield Trinity.
The Black and Whites brilliantly beat Leigh this past weekend to keep those hopes alive but it was a game that came at a significant injury cost. Here’s an early look at the team news for that match at the Totally Wicked Stadium
St Helens team news
Saints are looking at a relatively empty injury room which makes a change for them. Full-back Jack Welsby played his first minutes this past weekend since suffering what had initially been diagnosed as a 16-week injury back in May.
The England number one made it back in 11 and could start this weekend but Paul Wellens has almost all of his backs available, barring winger Lewis Murphy who is out for the year with a quad injury that he suffered in the same game Welsby went down in.
Konrad Hurrell has been in a year-long fight for full match fitness with the centre yet to play in Super League this year. He played in the reserves with centre counterpart Deon Cross last Thursday, however, Cross was selected to the 21-man squad to face Huddersfield so is seemingly closer to first-team action.
Curtis Sironen missed that game with a HIA but should be fit to return on Friday. Fellow forward Jake Wingfield previously suffered an ankle injury and looks likely to be out for the season.
Hull FC team news
Whilst St Helens have doubts about the likes of Welsby, Cross and Hurrell, Hull FC have doubts about a large portion of their team with all of Will Pryce, John Asiata and Liam Watts leaving the field injured.
Watts went off with a head knock but hadn’t been tested when John Cartwright spoke to the press so his status was unclear but assistant coach Simon Grix spoke to the media and confirmed he would be unavailable, the same for Pryce and Asiata, who had both looked more serious. Pryce was seen on crutches and in a boot post-match whilst Asiata looked to tweak his hamstring.
Post-game Cartwright admitted Asiata’s hamstring “doesn’t look good” and it’s now confirmed that he and Pryce look to have suffered season-ending injuries but the Black and Whites could be boosted by the return of Aidan Sezer who missed out last week.
Jordan Rapana was left out after seeing a concussion specialist with Ed Chamberlain also out on account of a rib injury. Both Liam Knight and Ligi Sao were also out and will be again, with Cartwright facing a number of problems.
