St Helens v Leeds: Predicted line-ups and late injury news

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

15 Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook

16 Kyle Amor

17 Agnatius Paasi

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