Sullivan back for Saints

Rugby League

Rugby League

Anthony Sullivan returns to action for St Helens today as they seek to reduce Wigan's lead at the top of the Stones Centenary Championship to four points.

Sullivan, Saints' top try-scorer this season with 24, is in the side for the trip to Castleford after missing last week's victory over Oldham with a back injury. The winger Joey Hayes, who scored a hat-trick of tries against Oldham, is ruled out of his first match of the season with an ankle injury.

Chris Joynt, who damaged his shoulder against Oldham, and the suspended captain Bobbie Goulding are also missing. Wales' Scott Gibbs takes over as skipper with Steve Prescott returning after injury on the wing. Phil Waring takes over from Goulding at scrum-half while Danny Arnold keeps his place at full-back.

Castleford's centre, Richard Goddard, will have a late fitness test after suffering bruised ribs in the first half of Friday's 31-20 defeat at Warrington. Castleford, who have lost five of their last six matches, are still without the second-row, Brendon Tuuta, and the winger Simon Middleton because of knee injuries.

The hooker Richard Russell and the stand-off Frano Botica, who have not played this season, have resumed training and should be back in action soon. They could start their comebacks in an Alliance match at Hull on 28 December. Russell has had a knee operation and Botica broke a leg playing for Auckland Warriors in the summer.

In-form Sheffield - going for their seventh successive League victory - could have five players who missed Sunday's trip to London back against Halifax at the Don Valley. Paul Broadbent, Mark Aston, Bright Sodje, Anthony Farrell and Waisale Sovatabua look set to return after injury. Halifax will be without their scrum-half Wayne Parker, who suffered a badly-bruised wrist in Sunday's 26-12 victory over Workington, and the full-back Mike Umaga, who has 16 stitches in a leg wound.