NATHAN Brown says Jonny Lomax is suffering no ill-effects from the dangerous tackle which saw the Saints full back land on his head.

Huddersfield Giants forward Brett Ferres was dismissed in a key turning point of Sunday’s cup tie and has subsequently received a five-game ban for the challenge.

Brown said: “Jonny’s pulled through quite well. He’s got a bit of a sore neck but nothing serious.

“I think we’re all fortunate. Jonny’s lucky his career is not over and Brett is with the charge he got.

“He’s not a dirty player and the implication is he cost his side in the cup but more importantly Jonny’s lucky.”

Brown revealed he will be making some team changes for the Super League trip to Castleford Tigers this Friday.

Returning Jon Wilklin replaces injured Kyle Amor in Saints’ 19-man squad for the top of the table clash.

Amor misses out after being injured twice on Sunday, firstly suffering a knee clash before going off after injuring a muscle in the rib area.

Brown said: “We carried a few into the cup game who carried injuries into it and the team will be a little different but no-one who played has made anything worse but some may need a week off.”

Gary Wheeler, not named, is fit to play but it is just a matter of finding him an opportunity, Brown added.

However, long-term absentee Richie Beaumont has a groin problem which has seen him visiting a specialist in Ireland, with Brown unable to make a prediction on his return.

Saints go into the clash at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle with their unbeaten record still intact, coming off two dramatic late wins in succession and Brown said he feels the confidence in the team helped in the crucial final stages at Huddersfield.

He added: “We didn’t play well and had a lot of people coming back into an important game but when you’re winning games things fall for you. Look at Huddersfield, who have lost a few now like that and drawn a couple. Confidence and that bit of belief carries you a long way.”

Daryl Powell’s side, captained by former Saints centre Michael Shenton, have made an impressive start to the season having lost only once so far.

Brown said: “I don’t think anyone expected them to be where they are and it is through playing well. Their game against Wigan when everyone expected them to have their bubble burst was a real highlight game for them this year.

“Daryl’s got some different personnel and the way he's replaced Rangi Chase is quite clever. Marc Sneyd on loan appears to be a good move and he’s brought in players who are a lot more structured and is using his personnel differently.

“Their position on the table is no fluke and I think they’ll maintain a position around the top half of the table for sure unless they get a bad injury run.”

Saints 19-man squad: Jonny Lomax, Tommy Makinson, Jordan Turner, Josh Jones, Adam Swift, Lance Hohaia, Luke Walsh, Mose Masoe, James Roby, Sia Soliola, Jon Wilkin, Willie Manu, Anthony Laffranchi, Mark Flanagan, Paul Wellens, Alex Walmsley, Joe Greenwood, Anthony Walker, Matty Dawson.

Meanwhile, the Saints boss dismissed any speculation linking him to a vacancy at NRL club New Zealand Warriors after Matt Elliott’s resignation at the weekend.

“I'm not going anywhere,” he said. “I enjoy coaching Saints. At some stage I’d love to coach in the NRL but the timing’s not right at the moment and I’m very grateful for the job that I have here, I have one of the best in the world.”