Millward may gamble on Ward to fire Saints

ST Helens have never lost three games in a row under the coaching of Ian Millward, but they may need to take some calculated risks today if they are to preserve that record and progress into the final of the Powergen Challenge Cup.

Saints face Leeds, who beat them in Super League last week, at the McAlpine Stadium this afternoon and will be crossing their fingers over the fitness of both Barry Ward and Sean Long.

Millward says it would be a gamble to bring back Ward after a knee injury, but without him Saints, short of specialist props, have lacked that essential element that coaches call "go forward''.

Far more damaging would be the absence of the game-breaking Long. He was substituted last weekend with what was described as a virus, but it was a virus that required an ice pack on his leg.

Millward has admitted that there is a doubt about Long, but the word is that he has been running freely enough in training.

The Leeds coach, Daryl Powell, has been agonising over his team selection; of his 26-man senior squad, only the fringe forward, Jason Netherton, is injured.

It is an enviable position to be in, but it could mean that Chev Walker and Ryan Bailey, both in marvellous form until they picked up injuries, might have to be content with places on the bench.

Struggling Wigan hit another problem in the build-up to their semi-final against Bradford at the same venue tomorrow with an ankle injury that is likely to rule out their second rower, Danny Tickle.

The former Halifax player turned the ankle in a training collision with the cup holders' assistant coach, Mike Gregory, and was sent for a scan yesterday. If Tickle is ruled out as expected, it could mean a demanding first-team debut for the 17-year-old Dave Allen.

But another candidate to make a similarly tough debut, the highly rated young centre, Kevin Brown, has joined the lengthy list of the injured.

Tickle's absence would also leave Wigan without a recognised goal kicker, with Andy Farrell still out after his knee operation and Julian O'Neill unloaded to Widnes. The first-choice wingers, Brett Dallas and Jamie Ainscough, will also be missing, with Shaun Briscoe pressed into service on one flank.

All the same, Bradford will be taking nothing for granted. They hope to have most of their injured players back, including Jamie Peacock, who played 40 minutes of an Academy fixture on Thursday to prove that he has recovered from a broken hand. That gives them the look of a team with the fire-power to take them to the final in Cardiff.