SAINTS boss Kristian Woolf will see how the players who missed the trial game come through training today and tomorrow before picking his team for Friday night’s Super League opener against Salford.

Although Woolf expects first team regulars Lachlan Coote, Regan Grace, Matty Lees and Morgan Knowles to be fit and available – if any of those are giving cause for concern after training they will be omitted.

Woolf was not specific if any were in greater doubt than others - but he has options.

He said: “We are expecting that all of those should be available this week.

“There are a couple we need to get a check on today and tomorrow when we see how they come through training.

“With it being round one, if there are any niggles or concerns then they won’t play.

“It is not smart to throw blokes out with niggles in round one that they could end up carrying for the whole season, so we will be a little bit cautious there. But at the same time we are expecting everyone to be available this week.”

In the trial game, to underline the depth of the squad, Jack Welsby covered for Coote, Josh Simm came into the three-quarters with Kevin Naiqama moving to wing to replace Grace, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook was starting prop in place of Lees and new boy Sione Mata’utia took Knowles’ 13 spot.

Knowles had thumb surgery in the off season - and was rested from the friendly with Leigh as a precaution, which gave Mata'utia an early chance to create an impression in the red vee.

With that level of cover in mind, it explains why Woolf won’t need to take any unnecessary risks selection wise at this stage of the year.

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The competition for spots does mean that picking 17 from a fully fit squad will in all likelihood see a Grand Final winner left on the sidelines.

And that push from the younger element is intensifying that.

“The beauty of the squad at the moment is that there is some real competition for spots across the board.

“The improvement of guys like Lewis Dodd, Jack Welsby and Josh Simm from last year will be really putting pressure on the other guys who have been in positions for a while and that adds to the strength of the squad and that is great position to be in,” Woolf said.