Sport : Rugby League

GARDNER BACK FOR SAINTS

25th May 2012, 05:07pm

Pat Richards: Still missing for Wigan

Pat Richards: Still missing for Wigan

The Magic Weekend comes to an exciting climax on Sunday evening as St Helens take on league leaders the Wigan Warriors.

Wigan are two points clear at the summit of the Stobart Super League table after seeing off Huddersfield in impressive fashion last Friday.

Saints are a side on the up and they are five points adrift of Wigan in the wake of Monday's clinical 31-18 success at champions Leeds Rhinos.

The Warriors have the upper hand on St Helens this season having won 28-10 at Langtree Park in April before knocking their arch rivals out of the Challenge Cup earlier this month.

Wigan remain without Paul Prescott and Ben Flower who are sidelined with knee ligament and hamstring injuries respectively.

Epalahame Lauaki keeps his place in the squad despite missing out against Huddersfield, while Logan Tomkins replacing Jack Hughes in the only change to the 19-man squad.

With goal-kicking winger Pat Richards (knee) still out of action Josh Charnley, who missed four conversions against the Giants, or Sam Tomkins will kick the extras against Saints.

"It's a St Helens-Wigan derby so there will be no need to motivate our players. They'll be ready," commented Warriors boss Shaun Wane.

Experienced winger Ade Gardner returns to Saints' 19-man squad after Tommy Makinson was ruled out through injury.

Makinson was stretchered off in Monday night's win with concussion, meaning a possible first appearance since Easter Monday for Gardner following injury.

Mark Flanagan, meanwhile, also misses out through injury, meaning Andrew Dixon is recalled.

St Helens: Wellens, Gardner, Shenton, Soliola, Meli, Hohaia, Lomax, Perry, Roby, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Puletua, Wilkin, Flannery, Laffranchi, Clough, Wheeler, Magennis, Dixon, J. Jones

Wigan: S. Tomkins, Charnley, Goulding, Carmont, Finch, Leuluai, McIlorum, Mossop, Hansen, Hock, O'Loughlin, Lima, Farrell, Tuson, Lauaki, Dudson, Gelling, L. Tomkins, Crosby

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