In the tie of the round Super League Champions St Helens take on Challenge Cup holders Leeds Rhinos at the Totally Wicked Stadium. The Saints are looking to win the cup for the first time since 2008 but will need to beat the Rhinos in a knockout game for the first time since 2009.
St Helens are almost full strength. Both Mark Percival and Agnatius Paasi both return to the squad this week after short injury lay-offs. However, given the recent form of Jack Welsby I can see him featuring at centre as Lachlan Coote makes his first appearance of the season at fullback. Morgan Knowles is still missing and is now joined by Aaron Smith.
Meanwhile the cup holders have been struck by an injury crisis. Leeds are already missing Jack Walker, Harry Newman, Konrad Hurrell, Ash Handley, Rob Lui, Richie Myler, Tom Holroyd, and Callum McLelland. If rumours are to be believed skipper Luke Gale – who won last year’s cup final with a clinical drop goal – will miss the game with a fractured thumb and could even be joined by Liam Sutcliffe as rumours also hot up about his fitness. That could exacerbate Leeds’ halfback problem further and could see Agar bring Kyle Eastmond in for his debut despite the fact he wasn’t named in their 21 man squad.
St Helens
1 Lachlan Coote
2 Tommy Makinson
3 Kevin Naiqama
18 Jack Welsby
5 Regan Grace
6 Jonny Lomax
7 Theo Fages
8 Alex Walmsley
9 James Roby
10 Matty Lees
11 Joel Thompson
12 James Bentley
14 Sione Mata’utia
Substitutes
20 Joe Batchelor
Leeds
27 Jack Broadbent
2 Tom Briscoe
28 Corey Hall
21 Alex Sutcliffe
24 Luke Briscoe
15 Liam Sutcliffe
17 Cameron Smith
8 Mikolaj Oledzki
9 Kruise Leeming
10 Matt Prior
11 Alex mellor
12 Rhyse Martin
13 Zane Tetevano
Substitutes
14 Brad Dwyer
19 King Vuniyayawa
20 Bodene Thompson
25 James Donaldson
Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers expecting flurry of signings
