St Helens v Wakefield preview

St Helens will be hoping to make it three Super League wins on the bounce when they tackle Wakefield Wildcats on Friday night.

Last year's Grand Final runners-up endured a slow start to the campaign, but have been rejuvenated under coach Mike Rush.

Saints are safely through to the quarter-finals of the Carnegie Challenge Cup while Wakefield had the weekend off after being eliminated in the fourth round of the competition by the Leeds Rhinos.

St Helens dominated the Wildcats last season with convincing victories home and away, including a 52-6 success at the club's temporary home Widnes.

Rush's team are seventh in the standings with six wins from their opening 12 games while Wakefield have three wins from 11 league outings.

St Helens' England back-row forward Jon Wilkin returns from a month's absence after recovering from a shoulder injury.

Prop Anthony Laffranchi is also back after sitting out the cup win over Oldham Roughyeds.

Josh Perry and Gary Wheeler remain absent, although they will continue to be assessed on a week-by-week basis.

Earlier this week Rush dispelled fears the team had one eye on the club's mouth-watering Challenge Cup clash with rivals Wigan, stating: "We are just geared up for Wakefield so all our week is focused on that next game."

Wakefield's former St Helens forward Paul Johnson returns from a two-match absence to face his old team.

The experienced forward takes the place of Oliver Wilkes, who is out with a thumb injury.

Matty Wildie's inclusion in place of Kyle Trout is the only other change made by Richard Agar for the first ever visit to Langtree Park.

St Helens squad: Paul Wellens, Michael Shenton, Sia Soliola, Francis Meli, Lance Hohaia, Jonny Lomax, James Roby, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Jon Wilkin, Chris Flannery, Anthony Laffranchi, Mark Flanagan, Paul Clough, Andrew Dixon, Lee Gaskell, Tommy Makinson, Carl Forster, Josh Jones, Joe Greenwood.

Wakefield squad: Richard Mathers, Peter Fox, Dean Collis, Vince Mellars, Ben Cockayne, Isaac John, Kyle Wood, Andy Ellis, Andy Raleigh, Danny Washbrook, Paul Aiton, Kyle Amor, Paul Johnson, Danny Kirmond, Frankie Mariano, Tim Smith, Matt Wildie, Matt James, Paul Sykes.