Saints v Dragons: Teams

Pryce: Back for St Helens

Leon Pryce is set to end a four-month injury lay-off when St Helens take on Catalan Dragons at the Stobart Stadium on Friday.

The stand-off has managed just a five-minute spell on the pitch this season, against the Dragons in Perpignan at the beginning of March.

He missed the start of the current campaign with a neck injury before hurting his groin just moments into his comeback.

But after a long period of recovery, he has been included in Royce Simmons 19-man squad for the visit of the in-form French outfit.

Shaun Magennis returns to the squad after missing the win over Wakefield last time out, while Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook is also included despite his fitness for the match being in question.

Injuries

But the hosts will have to cope without both Paul Wellens and Paul Clough, who have been ruled out with Achilles and ankle injuries respectively.

Catalan have suffered an injury setback in the form of influential half-back Scott Dureau, who picked up an ankle problem in the win over Leeds last Sunday.

Vincent Duport replaces him in the only change to the 19-man squad made by head coach Trent Robinson.

The Dragons are still without injury absentees Thomas Bosc, Setaimata Sa, Cyril Stacul and the suspended David Ferriol.

Catalan will leapfrog the Saints into fourth place in the Super League table if they manage to secure their seventh win in eight matches.

"Everybody gets surprised every week when we win. Hopefully we can continue that way," Robinson said.

"We've been playing some good footie for a while now but we're trying to improve each month, trying to jump a little each match. Whatever that means, we just want to keep working hard."

Saints are, however, looking at climbing higher with third-placed Huddersfield currently looking vulnerable.

Winger Jamie Foster said: "First place may be out of our reach now because Warrington and Wigan are in such great form but, if we can get third, we can launch a really good attack at the end of the year.

"But Catalans are a real tough team to play against. They are probably one of the toughest in Super League.

"People under-rate them but they are so dangerous to play against. They beat Wigan twice and they beat Warrington. They can play as good as anyone.

"If you ask people to name the five best teams in Super League I don't think many would put Catalan Dragons in there but I certainly would.

"The respect I've got for them is massive. It's going to be a very tough game.''

St Helens squad: Shenton, Soliola, Meli, Pryce, Eastmond, Roby, Graham, Puletua, Wilkin, Flannery, Moore, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Ashurst, Dixon, Lomax, Magennis, Foster, Gaskell, Makinson.

Catalan squad: Greenshields, Blanch, Henderson, Casty, Menzies, Raguin, Mounis, Baile, Gossard, Millard, Vaccari, Simon, Fakir, Paea, Baitieri, Duport, Pelissier, Marginet, Ancely.