SAINTS' injury and absentee list continued to lengthen this week - even with two players returning for today's game.

Although Jonny Lomax returned from suspension and Sione Mata'utia was back after being sidelined since June with a neck injury, Saints lost three more frontline players.

With Alex Walmsley suffering a training injury to join Curtis Sironen (torn calf) and James Bell (back) on the sidelines.

Coach Paul Wellens explained the nature of Walmsley's injury - a player who has only recently returned from a leg injury.  

Wellens said: "Alex got injured during the week.

"He pulled his hip flexor, so obviously not ideal, but we couldn't play him at risk of worsening it and him being out for the season.

"We had to make a sensible call. Whether he is fit for next week still remains to be seen.

"Morgan Knowles will be back next week, the situation is what it is and I don't want to sit here talking about players that aren't playing.

"Our reality is getting the best out of the players that are playing and we're not getting that at the moment.

"There might be a number of reasons for that. Someone like Matty Lees, for example, has for large parts of this season been carrying the can and there's a couple of other players who I could probably throw in there.

"We've asked a hell of a lot of Leesy. It wasn't his greatest day today, but if anybody's got a little bit of an excuse, it is probably him.

"But at the same time the situation isn't going to change dramatically for us in the next few weeks.

"So it's going to be a real test of character."

Saints' absentees could be added to if the disciplinary acts upon the yellow and red cards given to Waqa Blake and Tommy Makinson respectively.