Saints can show true colours

St Helens should be backed at the evens chalked up by Skybet to resume normal service by beating Warrington in their engage Super League match at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Saturday.

Saints’ coach Mick Potter described his side’s performance in their 20-10 defeat away to Salford last week as their worst in his six months at the helm and he will be expecting a reaction from his players in this televised clash.

History suggests Warrington need not bother to turn up as the Wolves have won only once in 34 Super League meetings of the pair, with Saints putting together a 16-match winning run since their 56-22 defeat at Wilderspool in 2001.

Warrington, however, have more cause for confidence than in recent meetings as they go into the game in robust form, gaining six wins from their past seven matches.

The Wolves, a best-priced 6-5 with Victor Chandler, are expected to give a debut to former Wigan winger Brian Carney, while ex-Saints half-back Lee Briers, one of two survivors along with Paul Wood from that 2001 victory, is set to return from a three-match injury absence.

Sean Long, Briers’ successor at Knowsley Road, is an absentee for the leaders, who are also without skipper Keiron Cunningham.