Saints v Rhinos: Teams

Gardner: Could miss rest of the season for Saints

St Helens have big injury problems to overcome as they host big rivals Leeds Rhinos in Friday night's live Super League clash.

Saints winger Ade Gardner is the latest man on the injury list, with his torn Achilles bad enough to possibly keep him on the sidelines for the rest of the season.

Josh Perry's return from injury did not last long as he picked up a one-match suspension for fighting with Crusaders man Ben Flower during last Friday's contest.

Royce Simmons also has to do without the likes of Leon Pryce, Gary Wheeler, Chris Flannery, Scott Moore and Paul Clough who are all still out of action.

Despite their problems, Saints are still just two points behind the leading trio of Warrington, Wigan and Huddersfield.

The Rhinos are just one place and three points behind Saints in fifth in Super League, but their four-game winning streak was ended in emphatic fashion last week against Warrington.

Tough side

However, Simmons is refusing to read too much into that result and is well aware of the rivalry that has developed in recent years between the two clubs.

"I thought Leeds were pretty good last week," said Simmons. "The scoreline wasn't a true tale of the game. There was nothing in it for the first 60 minutes.

"So they had a lot of positives and they are a tough side.

"There is a great rivalry between both teams, no doubt about that. I could tell that from last time we played them.

"There was plenty of sting in both sides. You can tell there is a bit of history there."

Leeds will hope to bounce back quickly from their 42-6 hammering by the Wolves to get their revival back on track for the season.

Brian McDermott hopes full-back Brent Webb will be able to run out after missing the last three games with a dead leg, while they are still looking for the right outside back combination following Keith Senior's season-ending injury.

Danny McGuire came through his first full 80 minutes of the season unscathed last week in the one plus point from their heavy defeat.

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

Leeds squad: Webb, Smith, Delaney, Hall, McGuire, Burrow, Leuluai, Buderus, Peacock, Jones-Buchanan, Ablett, Sinfield, Lauitiiti, Bailey, Kirke, Hauraki, Pitts, McShane, Hardaker.