Super League preview: Wakefield Wildcats v St Helens
St Helens will look to consolidate their place in the Super League play-offs when they face Wakefield Wildcats.
Last Updated: 18/08/13 5:43pm
Four successive victories have seen the Saints elevated to fifth in the standings with three to play while the Wildcats, in 10th, have slipped out of contention.
Last Saturday's 26-14 defeat at the hands of Warrington Wolves was the fourth in a row for Richard Agar's men, who have struggled for form at the business end of the season.
Following that loss Agar has opted to make three changes to the Wildcats squad ahead of Sunday's clash at Belle Vue.
Recovered
Dean Collis and Justin Poore sat out last Saturday's match with injuries but both return to action this weekend having made a swift recovery.
The return of Collis and Poore means there is no room for Kyle Trout and Matty Wildie in Agar's plans.
Back row Chris Annakin is recalled to the 19-man squad to deputise for the injured Frankie Mariano, who sustained rib damage last time out.
Meanwhile, Saints head coach Nathan Brown has named two changes as his side seek a fifth straight win to bolster their title bid.
Boosted
Stand-off Gareth O'Brien has been forced to sit out the visit to Wakefield following advice from the club's medical staff.
The Saints are however boosted by the eagerly anticipated return of second row Sia Soliola following his recovery from injury.
Soliola's inclusion in the travelling party and the return of O'Brien means prop Joe Greenwood drops out of Brown's 19-man squad.
Brown's men have prevailed in four of the previous five meetings between the sides, with the Wildcats' last victory a 33-32 win in August 2012.
Wildcats: Mathers, Fox, Collis, Smith, Cockayne, Smith, Poore, Aiton, Raleigh, Lauitiiti, Kirmond, Washbrook, Amor, Wilkes, Lyne, Goulding, Annakin, Kay.
Saints: Wellens, Turner, Soliola, Meli, Hohaia, Lomax, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Puletua, Wilkin, Manu, Laffranchi, Clough, Jones, Makinson, Walmsley, Swift, Walker, Howarth, Richards.