Crusaders v Saints: Teams

Witt: returns after serving a one-match ban

Crusaders will be looking to register their first win at the Racecourse this season when they host St Helens on Friday night.

The Welsh club have so far been beaten in both their games in Wrexham, going down 30-26 to Bradford in front of the Sky cameras in February and then suffering a 32-22 reverse to Catalan Dragons three weeks ago.

However, they did register a 16-10 victory over Salford last time out - a result that means they have now erased their four-point penalty.

Coach Iestyn Harris has made just one change to his 19-man squad, stand-off Michael Witt returning after serving a one-match ban.

Jordan James makes way while Lincoln Withers is still ruled out with a hamstring strain, meaning Lloyd White should continue at hooker.

Frank Winterstein - who was one of three players delayed in Australia due to visa issues - will be hoping to make his first appearance of the season having been left out of the final 17 to face the City Reds.

"It is awesome to be back in Wrexham," he said. "When I was stuck back in Australia I thought this was never going to happen!

"But it is good to see the boys again and it is good to get back to training. I am really stoked. It was very frustrating being stuck back home, especially with both the Super League and NRL seasons being in full swing.

"I was staying up late to watch the boys in action. I was sitting in the lounge itching to put a pair of boots and jersey on and help the boys out."

Wilkin boost

Saints make the short trip to north Wales boosted by the return of Jon Wilkin as they look for a fourth straight Super League success.

England international Wilkin suffered a freak hand injury but has recovered quicker than was originally expected.

Hooker Scott Moore misses out for the visitors with a calf strain, joining Francis Meli, Leon Pryce and Paul Clough on the sidelines.

Youngster Tommy Makinson, who has made two substitute appearances this year, keeps his spot in Royce Simmons' squad - but there is still no place for Bath-bound Kyle Eastmond.

Despite Crusaders' poor start to the campaign, Simmons has warned his side against complacency.

"We are playing a side that have only won a couple of games but they won last week," he said. "It can be easy to not pay them the respect they are due.

"They worry me a bit because they have just got a few boys over from Australia who played their first game last week.

"They also worry me because they have got (Michael) Witt back as well. They have got three half-backs in (Rhys) Hanbury, Witt and (Jarrod) Sammut who come on and off the field. Sammut does some unpredictable things."

Crusaders: Schifcofske, Thomas, Martin, Mellars, Reardon, Witt, Sammut, O'Hara, Bryant, Cahill, Chan, Winternstein, Flower, White, Hanbury, Johnson, Moore, Lupton, Tansey.

St Helens: Wellens, Gardner, Shenton, Soliola, Perry, Roby, Graham, Puletua, Wilkin, Flannery, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Wheeler, Ashurst, Dixon, Lomax, Magennis, Foster, Gaskell, Makinson.