Saints v Bulls - Teams
Injury-hit Bradford are without seven first-teamers for the trip to in-form St Helens on Friday night, live on Sky Sports.
Last Updated: 13/06/08 6:36pm
St Helens go in search of a seventh straight win in the engage Super League when they entertain injury-hit Bradford on Friday night.
Since suffering a shock defeat at the hands of Castleford at the start of April Saints have been undefeated, although they still find themselves six points back of leaders Leeds in the table.
Now they entertain a Bulls team without seven first-team regulars, although coach Daniel Anderson is refusing to take his opponents lightly.
"They (Bradford) are in a tough patch at the moment," he told Sky Sports News. "But they are a club that is rich in tradition and success in the Super League era.
"We've had some ding-dong battles with them in the past, so I will prepare for a very dangerous Bradford team and show them the respect they deserve."
The home side will be without forwards Chris Flannery and Jason Cayless after both picked up knee injuries in the 52-10 victory over Hull KR.
Prop Cayless was stretchered off with medial ligament damage and will be out for six-to-eight weeks, making him a doubt for the Carnegie Challenge Cup semi-final against Leeds.
Bulls ravaged
Bradford are heavily depleted for the tough trip to Knowsley Road as they attempt to halt a worrying losing run.
Terry Newton is the latest name to add to the casualty list with a shoulder injury and with his understudy Wayne Godwin also sidelined, the Bulls are without either of their recognised hookers.
Coach Steve McNamara will also now have to do without Glenn Morrison for the rest of the season after the loose forward was found to have torn his calf and partially fractured his knee cap.
As well as Australian Morrison, the normally powerful pack is missing Andy Lynch and Chris Nero, while skipper Paul Deacon is another major absentee.
With the squad stripped down to the bare bones McNamara has called up part-time duo Keal Carlile and Kieran Hyde.
Hooker Carlile seems certain to make his first-team debut while Semi Tadulala returns on the wing after missing the last two games with a dislocated shoulder.
The Bulls head on their travels having lost back-to-back games at home, firstly against Hull FC in the cup and then against top six rivals Les Catalans last Sunday.
St Helens squad: Wellens, Gardner, Gidley, Talau, Meli, Pryce, Long, Cunningham, Gilmour, Wilkin, Sculthorpe, Roby, Graham, Hargreaves, Clough, Tyrer, Fa'asavalu, Frodsham, Thompson.
Bradford squad: Cook, Langley, Halley, Vagana, Sykes, Carlile, Harris, Hyde, Evans, Platt, Solomona, James, Burgess, Feather, Jeffries, Tadulala, Finnigan, Kopczak, Hape.