Kristian Woolf forced into changes ahead of St Helens’ semi-final clash against the Salford Red Devils

St Helens head coach Kristian Woolf has been forced into a number of changes ahead of Saturday’s semi-final clash against the Salford Red Devils.

Saints were rocked by the news that Alex Walmsley will be out for the rest of the season due to a foot injury whilst Dan Norman will also miss out with a broken cheekbone.

However, there is some good news on the horizon for Kristian Woolf’s men with Mark Percival and Sione Mata’utia both returning for the crunch clash.

Percival hasn’t featured since the victory over Warrington in mid May, whilst Mata’utia last played in Saints’ 60-6 away win over Hull FC back in August.

Sam Royle also comes in to the squad with the youngsters who played against Toulouse dropping out as expected. Will Hopoate has not recovered in time and neither has Josh Simm following his injury against Wigan.

Woolf said: “Dan Norman is definitely unavailable this week. His cheekbone injury (from the Toulouse game) is a fractured cheekbone, unfortunately.

“That is just a little bit where we are at there at the moment and have finished the year with a lot of players unavailable. Some of that changes a little for us this week but a lot of it doesn’t.”

Woolf added: “What I will say is that we are going to throw a side out there that I am extremely confident in. “I will also say that this will be the strongest side we have put out there since Magic weekend.”

All eyes will be on Channel 4 and Sky Sports on Saturday lunchtime as Saints get ready for one of their toughest challenges of the year against a Salford side ready to strike up an upset.

St Helens squad to face Salford:

1 Jack Welsby
2 Tommy Makinson
4 Mark Percival
6 Jonny Lomax
9 James Roby
10 Matty Lees
11 Sione Mata’utia
12 Joe Batchelor
13 Morgan Knowles
14 Joey Lussick
15 LMS
16 Curtis Sironen
17 Agnatius Paasi
19 Jake Wingfield
20 James Bell
22 Ben Davies
23 Konrad Hurrell
26 Sam Royle
27 Jon Bennison
31 Taylor Pemberton