SAINTS scrum half Sean Long makes his long-awaited return from suspension on Friday night at the place where all his troubles began - and he was quick to point out he won't be placing any bets!

Long, banned for three months for backing Bradford to beat a depleted Saints side last Easter Monday, returns to the fold for the final game of the regular season at Odsal.

Although last Friday's defeat against Leeds may have taken some of the edge off this match for some, it is still a red letter day for Long.

And he still earnestly believes Saints can make a serious fist of completing the Super League and Cup double this term - even from fifth spot.

Long said: "I still think we can win this competition. We did it in the Challenge Cup, beating the top five teams.

"We know it is going to be tough, but if we can peak at the right time - and I believe we are going in the right direction - I don't see why we can't win it. It does not matter if we finish fourth or fifth, if we are on form we can beat anyone."

His return is just the tonic his team-mates need - Saints have sorely missed that spark of creativity that their mercurial Great Britain number seven brings to their play.

And although youngsters Scott Moore and James Roby have performed creditably when given the opportunity, Saints have missed Long's kicking game and his ability to organise.

Long said: "I don't think one man makes a team, but I can help be the link between Scully and Hoops, which is something we have been missing.

"I can also help Scully out with the kicking, because when you only have one man kicking, it is tough. Hopefully I will be able to move us around the park a bit better. But this is a team game."

Prior to his suspension, Long was having the season of his life, both in attack and even in defence, and coach Ian Millward will be hoping that the extended lay-off has not dulled his sharpness too much.

Millward has no hesitation in starting with him at half back - playing against a Bulls side who are just about hitting a run of form following an indifferent season.

Millward said: "He is right and how long he stays on depends on how the weather is, how many stoppages there are and what the scoreboard is like. We will see how it pans out.

"We have missed Sean an awful lot - he is a major contributor to the team and directs our team.

"We have missed that - we have thrown kids in at seven, but we have missed Sean badly, because I would bracket him in the top group of half-backs in the world."

How Long emerges from what has been a five-month spell under a cloud, will only be revealed over the next four weeks.

But after effectively having a three-month pre-season under the wing of Apollo Perelini, Long just needs game time now to boost his match fitness ahead of the play-offs and subsequent Tri-Nations Test series.

"It is important to get a game under my belt before those play-offs, and I had always set my mind on this being the week that I would begin my comeback.

"You can do as much training as you want, but match fitness is what you need. I hope to put in a decent performance and am not bothered that it is at Bradford.

"The big games always excite me - when you are playing top sides everybody is up for it. The booing won't affect me," Long said.

Looking back now he bitterly regrets placing the bet, but added: "At the time I didn't know it was wrong. To me it was another bet, like I do with the horses. But I won't be placing one this weekend, I am telling you!"