Super League: Scrum-halves Scott Dureau, Tomhas Bosc out of St Helens v Catalans clash

St Helens and Catalans Dragons will both be without their first-choice scrum-halves when they open their First Utility Super League campaign at Langtree Park on Friday.

Scott Dureau, who has made just 10 appearances for the Dragons in the last two years after undergoing surgery to remove a brain tumour, will sit out the game with a groin strain, but hopes to play in round two against Castleford.

Thomas Bosc will once more deputise for Dureau, partnering new signing Todd Carney, the controversial Australian who will make his Super League debut.

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Saints half-back Luke Walsh, as expected, has failed to recover from ankle surgery in time to make his comeback, but coach Keiron Cunningham expects to have him available for the World Club Challenge against South Sydney on February 22, if not before.

Forwards Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook and Luke Thompson, who were in Saints' victorious Grand Final team, also miss out through injury, but Saints will give debuts to close-season signings Travis Burns and Atelea Vea as they begin their title defence.