Saints v Rovers: Teams

St Helens have kept faith with half-backs Jonny Lomax and Lee Gaskell for Friday’s engage Super League match against Hull KR at the Stobart Stadium, meaning there is again no place for union-bound Kyle Eastmond.

Eastmond’s omission comes despite a growing injury list, Francis Meli and Jon Wilkin joining Paul Clough and Leon Pryce on the sidelines.

Winger Meli has a hamstring problem, while versatile England international Wilkin damaged nerves in his hand during a freak gardening accident.

Tommy Makinson and Andrew Dixon have been called into Saints coach Royce Simmons’ initial 19-man squad.

Unchartered

Hull KR, meanwhile, will still be without captain Mick Vella, who has failed to recover in time from a knee injury.

Prop Scott Wheeldon and utility-back Ben Cockayne are hoping for recalls after being left out for last week’s defeat against Huddersfield.

“It’s a little bit of unchartered waters for us,” said Rovers coach Justin Morgan, whose side lost last season’s corresponding fixture 68-12 and have won just one of their last six.

“Players that we’re used to playing with every week like Vella, (Clint) Newton and (Michael) Dobson aren’t there so you take some adjusting to playing without those players.

“I certainly don’t think we’ve lacked leadership because I’ve been very impressed with the players that have taken the field. Men like Ben Galea, Shaun Briscoe, Scott Murrell and Blake Green have stepped up to fill their shoes.

“But like any team, you take a number of players out and bring a number of other players in and it’s always going to take a bit of teething time to find your feet and get that continuity to your play.”

St Helens squad: Wellens, Gardner, Shenton, Soliola, Perry, Roby, Graham, Puletua, Flannery, Moore, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Wheeler, Ashurst, Dixon, Lomax, Magennis, Foster, Gaskell, Makinson

Hull KR squad: Briscoe, Cockayne, Clinton, Fisher, Fox, Galea, Green, Hall, Hodgson, Lovegrove, Latus, Mason, Murrell, Netherton, Taylor, Webster, Welham, Watts, Wheeldon