SAINTS have selected their 21-man squad for Friday night's trip to a rejuvenated Leigh Leopards side that are battling to keep their 2024 season alive.

Paul Wellens makes three changes to the squad that was named for the last round with Jake Burns. Tee Ritson and Owen Dagnall stepping out of the team.

Back-rower Matt Whitley is back amongst the 21-man side after suffering shoulder injury in the away match against Hull KR back at the start of May.

Saints could could also have winger Tommy Makinson back following a foot injury that was picked up during the side's last win over London Broncos in the capital in June.

Young forward Leon Cowen steps into the squad after being on dual-registration at Swinton Lions in recent months.

Should he feature on Friday night, the former Academy Captain would make his official Super League and club debut.

St Helens 21-man squad vs Leigh Leopards.

1. Jack Welsby, 2. Tommy Makinson, 3. Waqa Blake, 4. Mark Percival, 5. Jon Bennison, 6. Jonny Lomax, 7. Lewis Dodd, 9. Daryl Clark, 10. Matty Lees, 14. Moses Mbye, 15. James Bell, 16. Curtis Sironen, 17. Agnatius Paasi, 19. Matt Whitley, 20. George Delaney, 21. Ben Davies, 22. Sam Royle, 30. Jonny Vaughan, 31. Noah Stephens, 32. Leon Cowen, 33. Harry Robertson.

Wellens said: “Ever since Leigh came back into Super League, our games against them have always been really competitive and really intense games.

“We expect no different at the weekend.

“They were similar to ourselves at the start of the year and had a poor run of results when they were decimated with injuries and were missing all their front line forwards.

“Since that has changed they have shown what a team they are and are picking up wins and looking very threatening.”

Saints are still depleted on troop numbers in the middle and that has led to a big burden being shouldered by the likes of 80-minute front rower Maty Lees, an only recently fully fit Agnatius Paasi and teenage prop Noah Stephens.

“It is a great challenge for us and our pack, who I am asking a lot of.

“But we are working hard as a middle unit to stay competitive and give ourselves a chance of winning games,” Wellens said.