Saints v Robins: Teams
St Helens will have to do without three key players for the visit of Hull KR on Friday night.
Last Updated: 27/02/09 10:59am
St Helens will have to do without three key players for the visit of Hull KR on Friday night.
Front rower Jason Cayless is still sidelined with a shoulder injury while loose forward Chris Flannery (elbow) and stand-off Leon Pryce (calf) both picked up knocks in Sunday's win at Huddersfield.
However, Mick Potter welcomes prop James Graham back into the squad after missing the Giants trip with a hamstring injury, while utility Kyle Eastmond is poised for his first appearance of the season.
"I have only seen them against Leeds, but they looked competitive and well capable of moving around the ball," Potter said of the opposition. "They have plenty of speed and will be awkward. I'm glad we are playing them at home!
"They are a difficult proposition as they are so unpredictable. I don't think we have seen the best of Paul Cooke yet and Michael Dobson is very dangerous. His understanding of the game is second to none.
"Hopefully the fans will be really good for us, get a buzz going and the players will respond."
Hull KR are without Cooke though after the stand-off was left out of the 19-man squad owing to a troublesome wrist injury.
Coach Justin Morgan is still without club captain Mick Vella and Stanley Gene, but Clint Newton and Liam Colbon are expected to shake off knocks they picked up in the defeat to Leeds.
Chaz I'Anson takes over from Cooke while centre Chev Walker returns after serving a one-match ban.
St Helens 19-man squad: Wellens, Gardner, Gidley, Long, Cunningham, Graham, Gilmour, Wilkin, Roby, Hargreaves, Puletua, Clough, Eastmond, Frodsham, Wheeler, Fa'asavalu, Dixon, Ashurst, Armstrong.
Hull KR 19-man squad: I'Anson, Briscoe, Fox, Welham, Webster, Colbon, Wheeldon, Dobson, Fozzard, Fisher, Aizue, Newton, Galea, Murrell, Fitzhenry, Lovegrove, Netherton, Cockayne, Walker.
