Saints v Crusaders: Teams
St Helens full-back Paul Wellens will miss Friday's home game against Crusaders.
Last Updated: 10/03/10 6:13pm
St Helens full-back Paul Wellens has been ruled out of Friday's engage Super League match against Crusaders at Knowsley Road.
Wellens has failed to overcome a dead leg and his absence leaves Saints short of options at full-back as Matt Gidley and Jonny Lomax are also on the casualty list.
Lomax, who has scored three tries in four matches from the wing this season, is expected to be sidelined for up to eight weeks with a shoulder problem picked up in the 28-24 defeat at Hull KR on March 7.
At least St Helens can welcome back winger Ade Gardner after a four-match absence with a rib cartilage injury, and back-row forwards Jon Wilkin and Chris Flannery.
Second rower Paul Clough will be making his 100th appearance for the club.
Crusaders coach Brian Noble has brought in winger Anthony Blackwood for Lloyd White, who sustained a leg injury in the 46-12 defeat at Warrington Wolves last time out.
New signing Gareth Thomas will not feature against Saints but is expected to make his debut against Catalans Dragons on March 19.
St Helens squad: Gardner, Meli, Pryce, Eastmond, Fozzard, Cunningham, Graham, Puletua, Wilkin, Flannery, Roby, Hargreaves, Moore, Clough, Ashurst, Dean, Wheeler, Dixon, Fa'asavalu
Crusaders squad: Youngquest, Mellars, Raynor, Witt, O'Hara, Withers, Bryant, Hauraki, Chan, Trimarchi, Dyer, Lee, Winternstein, Peek, Thackray, James, Kear, Lupton, Blackwood