SAINTS boss Ian Millward has a rare selection headache ahead of Saturday night's daunting do-or-die trip to the JJB - because for the first time since May he has a full strength side to pick from.

Last Friday night's absentees - Darren Albert, Lee Gilmour, Jason Hooper, Keiron Cunningham, Nick Fozzard, Mark Edmondson and Paul Sculthorpe all return for the sudden death eliminator against Wigan.

He said: "Everyone is 100 per cent fit and raring to go for the first time since the Challenge Cup Final, so hopefully that is an omen there. Selection will be a headache."

Millward has options before and during the game - he may opt to switch Lee Gilmour to centre, let Mick Higham continue in the hooking role and allow Keiron Cunningham to operate as an extra forward.

Although Millward was tight-lipped about his likely 17 - he was excited at the prospect of seeing Sean Long link up with Paul Sculthorpe and Jason Hooper again after his dazzling return at Bradford.

He said: "Sean is fit and has trained well and has had the ball in his hands, so he didn't have to worry about how is body was, just his timing. I thought he was fantastic. I am looking forward to seeing how he links with Sculthorpe, Hooper and Cunningham, as well as Higham, who is just hitting form just at the right time."

Although Saints have not won against any of their fellow top six sides since the end of May - losing twice against Leeds and Wigan, and being beaten at Wakefield, Hull and Bradford - there appears to be a mood of optimism emanating from Knowsley Road.

"I am not scared of any team, we have beaten Leeds twice this year and Wigan in a big final. And we have also beaten the others. Give me a fit team and we will be right.

"I have not even contemplated the season ending - we are planning all the way to the Grand Final. I will be totally surprised if we are not training on Monday!" Millward said.

To add more fuel to the fire, Millward is annoyed by the media's selection of a Super League 'Dream Team' which includes only one Saints player - skipper Paul Sculthorpe.

Millward described the decision as 'warped' and at a press conference earlier this month he challenged the assembled national media over the absence of Jason Hooper in the list of potential candidates for the coveted Man of Steel award.

When you throw in the fact that most people seem to be talking about the Super League Grand Final being a private all Yorkshire affair for the first time since its inception, you can understand why there will be no lack of motivation at Wigan come 6pm Saturday.

"If you take the Bradford game out, I believe our previous three and a half games, are up there at the mark.

"I think it shows how much we have been punished by Sean's absence. We are three wins off second spot and had he played we would have got those wins," he said.