SAINTS full back Lachlan Coote has a chance of returning to the team for Friday’s home clash against Huddersfield Giants.

If he does play, it will give Saints the option of moving Jack Welsby into the centre or to the bench to replace the suspended hooker Aaron Smith.

However, Coote will not be risked if he is not 100 per cent fit.

Coach Kristian Woolf said: “Cootey has a real chance and we are going to name him in the squad.

“But if he is not 100 per cent fit then the risks outweigh the rewards, particularly at this stage of the year and with a player that is as influential as Cootey can be.

“We will give him an opportunity and if he is 100 per cent – he is an experienced player and if he says he is fully fit then we will play him.”

Woolf gave an update on James Bentley, who came off with an injured ankle in the first half against Toronto.

“James has had scans and has got to see a specialist.

“At the moment the diagnosis is pretty positive.

“It is not something that will need surgery which it means it is on the shorter end in terms of recovery time as well.

“We will know a little more later in the week, but at the moment it is all positive,” he said.

With both Saints bench hookers side-lined it does leave the coach looking at other options should he need to spell James Roby.

“Robes has 80 minutes in him if he needs to, but we need to make sure we have some cover there too, in case he does need a break.

“He is certainly getting to a point where he can play 80.

“With Cootey possibly back, we have the possibility of playing Jack Welsby centre – or Matty Costello. After that we need to figure out what we might need on the bench as well in terms of us having some versatility there.

“Joseph Paulo gives us a bit of versatility – he has played edge back row and middle. He can play other positions at a pinch, so to does Morgan Knowles.

“It may be an opportunity to run with four forwards, but I have just got to figure out Cootey first,” Woolf said.