SAINTS head coach Justin Holbrook was in good form as he and his Warrington Wolves counterpart Steve Price revealed their team news for Friday's Super League leadership battle at the Totally Wicked Stadium.

As Price highlighted how prop Mike Cooper and Wire co-captain Jack Hughes will return from being rested in the 48-12 win against London Broncos last week, Holbrook asked: "Are you going to rest Austin this week then?"

Stand-off Austin is The Wire's marquee signing from NRL club Canberra Raiders and has been instrumental in steering his new club to taking top spot off Saints only last weekend.

Not only is he their creative genius, he has scored six tries in his last two games - including four in a 63-12 win at Hull FC two rounds ago.

Price laughed at the tongue-in-cheek rhetorical question.

Holbrook then revealed he has a secret weapon up his sleeve.

With Saints legend Paul Sculthorpe also on the top table for today's joint press conference and admitting he'll be envious watching from the stand rather than playing on Friday, Holbrook chipped in: "I've put you in the 19 as a late inclusion."

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The Saints coach, putting jokes aside, revealed he has two players returning to the side that missed the first loss of the season at Catalans Dragons on Saturday.

They are stand-off Jonny Lomax and forward Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook.

"Jonny will be right," said Holbrook.

"He only missed last week’s game through illness.

"And Louie will play."

But French international Theo Fages, who had been keeping Danny Richardson out of the scrum-half role, will be sidelined for a second week with a hip injury he sustained in the last home win against Hull KR.

Holbrook said: "Theo won’t play this week. He’s still recovering from his injury, but he won’t be out for much longer which is good for us.

"Danny Richardson went good last week in tough conditions. Anyone who watched will have seen how boggy the pitch was and it was hard to come up with much.

"We obviously fell just short but it was no fault of Danny’s that’s for sure. He’s fine, he’s a good young player and he’ll play again this week."