Saints v Dragons: Teams

Kowsley Road, Sunday May 10, kick-off 3.15pm

Last updated: 10th May 2009

Saints v Dragons: Teams

Mogg: Influential

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Catalans Dragons will give late fitness tests to skipper Greg Bird, scrum-half Thomas Bosc and prop Jason Ryles ahead of Sunday's fifth-round Challenge Cup tie at St Helens.

Controversial Aussie stand-off Bird is fighting to overcome a hamstring injury while leading scorer Bosc hopes to return to the half-back partnership that helped Catalans to three straight wins.

Bosc (shoulder) together with Australian Test forward Ryles (quad) have not played since the Dragons' bruising 38-6 victory over Salford on April 18.

The Perpignan club however will be with Adam Mogg after the influential centre came through his first league appearance since March unscathed.

The former Canberra Raiders star has been sorely missed during his absence with hamstring problems and is keen to return to the fray.

"It's been a long two months for me watching the boys go round," he said.

Focus

"It's good to be back amongst them. I felt good and got a bit more fitness which will help me out for this week."

Both clubs have suffered consecutive defeats ahead of the clash and Mogg is fully aware that Saints, undefeated in their last 16 cup ties, will be looking to reverse that run.

After conceding 14 tries in back-to-back defeats by Hull KR and Leeds, he admitted that Catalans needed to improve dramatically if they were to stand a chance.

"It's a long time since they lost three (in a row) so that just adds to the occasion for us," he added. "We'll have to be up for it."

"We need to improve to have any chance this week. We've got to focus on ourselves and go there with a positive attitude."

St Helens will be without forward Jon Wilkin due to an ongoing knee problem and in the only change in Mick Potter's 19-man squad, Gary Wheeler comes in for Tom Armstrong.

St Helens squad: 1. Paul Wellens, 2. Ade Gardner, 3. Matt Gidley, 5. Francis Meli, 6. Leon Pryce, 7. Sean Long, 9. Keiron Cunningham, 10. James Graham, 11. Lee Gilmour, 13. Chris Flannery, 14. James Roby, 15. Bryn Hargreaves, 16. Tony Puletua, 17. Paul Clough. 18. Kyle Eastmond, 21. Gary Wheeler, 23. Maurie Fa'asavalu, 28. Matty Ashurst, 31. Jake Emmitt.

Catalans squad: 1. Clint Greenshields, 3. Steve Bell, 4. Adam Mogg, 5. Dimitri Pelo, 6. Thomas Bosc, 7. Shane Perry, 8. David Ferriol, 9. Casey McGuire, 10. Jerome Guisset, 13. Gregory Mounis, 14. Dane Carlaw, 15. Jean-Phillipe Baile, 16. Olivier Elima, 17. Cyril Gossard, 18. Vincent Duport, 19. Julien Touxagas, 20. Kane Bentley, 22. Jamel Fakir, 24. Remi Casty.