SAINTS have been given a half million pound vote of confidence by retailer all:sports, who have signed a three-year sponsorship deal with the club.

The partnership between the two flourished last year and Saints chief executive Sean McGuire said: "It is testament to the progress and professionalism of our business that we have been able to renew a sponsorship deal on greatly-improved terms.

"It says something about us that a big company like all:sports, with 285 stores and a massive turnover, want to be in bed with us.

"They are giving us £500,000, staged over three years - and that represents a massive deal for us.

"The contract we negotiated has a provision for a further two years should we decide it is appropriate."

Saints' new Australian signing Jamie Lyon will make his debut in tonight's (Thursday) friendly at Widnes. (7.30pm kick off).

Centre Lyon has been selected in a strong Saints side - in the team's first major hit-out of the year.

The only absentees are injury-hit Lee Gilmour, Keiron Cunningham, Jason Hooper and Willie Talau who are recovering from close season operations.

The team is: Paul Wellens; Ade Gardner, Jamie Lyon, Gray Viane, Darren Albert; Paul Sculthorpe, Sean Long; Paul Anderson, Micky Higham, Keith Mason, Mike Bennett, James Graham, Jon Wilkin.

Substitutes: Nick Fozzard, Mark Edmondson, Dom Feaunati, Ian Hardman, James Roby, Michael Smith, Maurie Fa'asavalu, Scott Moore.

Saints' squad will escape the foul English weather on Saturday when they head off to Portugal for a week-long spell of warm weather training.

St Helens comedian Johnny Vegas has been lined up for a cameo appearance in Keiron Cunningham's Testimonial game against Hull on Wednesday, February 2.

So that Vegas' appearance does not detract from what promises to be a serious game, the Thatto Heath funnyman is expected to only run on for a short spell at the end of the match.

Tickets are already on sale.