SAINTS prop Alex Walmsley is battling the foot injury sustained in the defeat by Wigan nine days ago and was wearing a protective boot when he collected his League Leaders medal on Sunday.

Coach Kristian Woolf admits that the injury is a concern - and they are going to figure out the CT scans before making a decision.

Walmsley was, however, hopeful of good news and being able to play in the Super League semi final a week on Saturday. 

“It was bit innocuous to be honest and I wasn’t too aware of it at the time,” he said.

“It was more the after-effects.

“We’re waiting back on some scans so hopefully I’ll be back for the semis, that’s the aim.”

It is not the first time Walmsley has had an injury concern ahead of the play-offs.

In 2020 a cartilage injury sustainined in Saints’ semi-final win over Catalans Dragons meant his knee kept locking - and and played through the pain barrier to help them beat Wigan 8-4 in the Grand Final before undergoing surgery.

“I don’t think it’s bothering me as much as my knee did then and hopefully we’ll get some good news,” Walmsley added.

Woolf admits the injury to Super League’s top front rower is a concern and says he could once more be asked to go through the pain barrier.

“It could be a similar situation,” Woolf said.

“It could be one where he’s got to play with the injury and in some pain. Players do that all the time.

“There’s a big difference between playing hurt and playing injured. If you’re injured you can’t perform, but if you’re hurt and dealing with pain, players do that all the time.

“He showed in the 2020 semi-final and Grand Final that he can play under some duress and with some pain and still get a job done because he’s a very elite player, the best front rower in the competition. We’re a much better team with him in.

“Obviously he’s a key player for us and, if he can contribute, we’ll have him out on the field.

“We’re very hopeful he’s going to be fine but, if he’s not, we’ve a guy like Agnatius Paasi, who’s probably been one of our best forwards this year, who gets an opportunity to become a starter.

“He’s been wanting an opportunity to start and I know he would thrive in that situation.

“It’s something we’ll sort out early in the week next week. Al’s touch and go at the moment. He’s got CT scans to figure out exactly the extent and where we go with it.”

St Helens, who were presented with the League Leaders’ Shield after Saturday’s win over Toulouse in the last match of the regular season, have next weekend off and will play the lowest-ranked survivor of the elimination play-offs at the Totally Wicked Stadium on September 17.