Quins v Saints: Teams
Harlequins could welcome back a trio of key players for Saturday's home fixture against injury-hit St Helens.
Last Updated: 24/07/09 2:14pm
Harlequins could welcome back a trio of key players as they look to end a five-match losing run when they host injury-hit St Helens.
Luke Dorn, Danny Orr and Chad Randall have all been included by coach Brian McDermott in his 19-man squad ahead of the game on Saturday.
While Orr and Randall both missed last week's loss to Catalans Dragons with knee injuries, Dorn has not played since June 6 due to a fractured fibula.
Luke Williamson and Joe Mbu are also available after missing the trip to Perpignan to stay at home with their expectant partners.
However, Rob Purdham (wrist) and Daniel Heckenberg (groin) are both still sidelined while centre David Howell is suspended.
Slump
Quins have not recorded a Super League victory since a 40-10 triumph at Hull KR back on June 12 but are still clinging on to the final play-off berth. They also have a game in hand, against Bradford, over all the teams above them.
St Helens coach Mick Potter is certainly not taking Quins lightly, insisting McDermott's troops are "hard to beat".
"I see it as two teams that have both got injuries," said Potter. "But I'd much prefer to play them at home, they are a difficult game.
"They have a mentality that they are hard to beat. They do all the little things right, they play percentage rugby league and it wins them more than they lose.
"They have the ability to play some good rugby league down your end of the field and they bank on spending a lot of time down there because they are strong in other areas. We need to be just as good as them in those areas."
Injury problems
Potter has plenty to contend with in terms of his own team with a lengthy injury list hampering Saints' bid to be crowned minor premiers.
Full-back Paul Wellens became the latest casualty when he suffered a broken hand in the shock home loss to Wakefield last Friday.
James Roby is out with the same injury while Sean Long has a broken jaw. Jason Cayless (knee), Maurie Fa'asavalu (broken arm), Gary Wheeler (calf) and Jonny Lomax (ankle) are the other absentees.
At least there is some good news with the return of Chris Flannery and Kyle Eastmond, who are both healthy again after recently suffering with mumps.
Harlequins RL squad: Clubb, Dorn, Gafa, Gale, Golden, Haggerty, Kaye, Mbu, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Melling, Orr, Randall, Robinson, Sharp, Temata, Ward, Wells, Williamson, Esders.
St. Helens squad: Gardner, Gidley, Meli, Pryce, Cunningham, Graham, Gilmour, Wilkin, Flannery, Hargreaves, Puletua, Clough, Eastmond, Dean, Dixon, Ellis, Ashurst, Armstrong, Emmitt.