Saints v Rhinos: Teams

Super League Grand Final, Old Trafford, Saturday October 13

By Rob Lancaster   Last updated: 12th October 2007

Saints v Rhinos: Teams

Long: Fitness battle

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St Helens coach Daniel Anderson has included Sean Long and Maurie Fa'asavalu in his 20-man squad for the Grand Final.

The duo are both struggling with hamstring injuries and will be given until Friday to prove their fitness for the final game of the season.

If Long is ruled out Matty Smith will start at scrum-half. The 20-year-old played in Saints' 10-8 victory over the Rhinos in the qualifying semi-final at Knowsley Road.

With the World Club Challenge and Carnegie Challenge Cup already secured, St Helens are now aiming for a fifth Grand Final success.

They have won all four of their previous visits to Old Trafford in the Super League era, including a 26-4 triumph against Hull FC last year.

Mid-season recruit Chris Flannery will get his first taste of a final since moving to England after missing out on the Challenge Cup success at Wembley because he joined too late.

No worries for Rhinos

Leeds are likely to keep faith with the same 17 who overwhelmed Wigan in last Friday's eliminator.

Jordan Tansey, Ryan Hall and Jamie Thackray have been added to the squad that thumped the Warriors 36-6 at Headingley.

That match was coach Tony Smith's final home game in charge of the Rhinos and he will be hoping to sign off in style before he becomes the new full-time boss of Great Britain.

Unlike their opponents, Leeds do not have a great record in Grand Finals.

Their only success came in 2004, when they defeated the Bradford Bulls, with their other two trips, in 1998 and 2005, ending in defeat.

St. Helens squad: Wellens, Gardner, Gidley, Talau, Meli, Pryce, Long, Fozzard, Cunningham, Cayless, Gilmour, Wilkin, Roby, Bennett, Graham, Hargreaves, Smith, Clough, Fa'asavalu, Flannery.

Leeds Rhinos squad: Webb, Donald, Toopi, Senior, Smith, McGuire, Burrow, Leuluai, Diskin, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Ellis, Sinfield, Lauitiiti, Thackray, Bailey, Kirke, Ablett, Tansey, Hall.