Wakefield Wildcats v St Helens: Super League preview
Last Updated: 06/03/15 7:48pm
France international Mickael Simon could make his Wakefield Wildcats debut against St Helens in Friday's Super League match at the Belle Vue Stadium.
The 27-year-old prop, who joined the Wildcats from Catalans Dragons in the close season, gets his chance following the loss of Australian front rower Scott Anderson for up to three months with a knee injury sustained in last Sunday's 58-16 defeat at Widnes.
"Scott has done his medial," said Wakefield coach James Webster. "He's seen a specialist and we should have the scans back later (on Wednesday) afternoon.
"If it's a full rupture, which might require surgery, we are looking at three months. Otherwise it will be two months."
Anderson joins fellow forwards Chris Annakin, Ian Kirke and Jon Molloy on the sidelines and, although second rower Matty Ashurst is fit to return, Webster says the injuries are biting into his small squad.
"We're at the bare bones," he said. "We've got four middles busted.
"It was going to happen at some stage during the year. I didn't expect it to happen in round two or three but we've still got a real strong team and we've no excuses going into this game."
Webster said Australian utility back Jarrod Sammut will remain on a dual-registration at London Broncos.
St Helens bounced back from the World Club Series defeat with victory over Castleford last weekend, but they will be without prop Kyle Amor and stand-off Travis Burns, who are both suspended.
Luke Walsh is still a few weeks away from returning but Kieron Cunningham welcomes back Jordan Turner from injury and has added Lance Hohaia, Andre Savelio, Matty Dawson and Paul Wellens to his squad.
Wakefield Wildcats: 1 Craig Hall, 2 Chris Riley, 3 Dean Collis, 4 Reece Lyne, 5 Richard Owen, 6 Jacob Miller, 7 Tim Smith, 8 Nick Scruton, 9 Paul McShane, 11 Ali Lauitiiti, 12 Danny Kirmond (c), 13 Danny Washbrook, 14 Pita Godinet, 15 Matt Ryan, 16 Mickael Simon, 17 Matty Ashurst, 18 Daniel Smith, 23 Lopini Paea, 28 Joe Arundel.
St Helens: 1 Jonny Lomax, 2 Thomas Makinson, 3 Jordan Turner, 5 Adam Swift, 8 Mose Masoe, 9 James Roby, 11 Atelea Vea, 12 Jon Wilkin (c), 13 Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 14 Alex Walmsley, 15 Mark Flanagan, 16 Lance Hohaia, 17 Mark Percival, 18 Luke Thompson, 19 Greg Richards, 20 Paul Wellens, 21 Joe Greenwood, 22 Matty Dawson, 25 Andre Savelio.
Watch Wakefield Wildcats v St Helens live on Sky Sports 3 on Friday from 7.30pm