SAINTS must be prepared for what both Huddersfield Giants and the elements throw at them on Friday night’s Super League opener.

After some loose play with the ball in the last friendly run-out coach Keiron Cunningham has hammered home the importance of playing the conditions, especially against teams like Huddersfield who are strong on winning territorial battles.

Saints have named a 19-man squad strong on forwards, and missing Travis Burns, for the eagerly anticipated clash

Cunningham said: “I tell my players they have to play three seasons – the winter season to kick off, then that nice dry spell in the middle and then that cold, damp spell at the autumn.

“You have to adjust how you play. Completion is the key on Friday and Huddersfield are one of the best teams at that.

“Their bread and butter is keeping hold of the ball and kicking it long. We have to emulate that.

“We have got a lot of strike in our team. If we get those strike players in the right areas of the field at the right time we will do well, but staying in that arm wrestle is key to us.”

The challenge is therefore laid for the big men Lama Tasi, Kyle Amor, Alex Walmsley, Andre Savelio and Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook to take them forward and give the halves something to play off.

Who that half back pairing will be will only be revealed before kick off - but it won’t feature Australian stand off Travis Burns, who has been omitted from the line up.

Burns suffered concussion in the Widnes game and left the fold early, and that could be a factor.

Although Cunningham did not refer to any individuals by name, speaking to the Star on Monday he outlined reasons behind his selection policy which may have its roots in some of the troubles the attack encountered at times last term.

Cunningham said: “I need players who work with players. I can’t have any conflict or anything that just doesn’t flow.

“We have not got room for that in the early point of the season and can’t be giving people chances when it is going to hurt us.

“It is a cut-throat industry – if you lose a few games and it is people’s necks on the line and then the pressure comes.

“When pressure gets hold of you you do silly things as a player.”

Although Cunningham has not shown his hand yet about what he has planned for the halves on Friday, reading between the lines it could mean Luke Walsh will be partnered by Jordan Turner.

That was one of the number of options Saints went with during the two trial games, along with other combinations involving Theo Fages and Burns.

The proof of the pudding will be in the eating, but if it did pan out that way it would lead Dominique Peyroux and Mark Percival to hold down the centre berths.

Adam Swift and Tommy Makinson are both selected, despite not having little or no pre-season game tim, but have shown enough in training.

Saints have a strong pack, and it could be that Cunningham picks horses for courses and fills his bench with the big men.

Cunningham will select his 17 from:2. Tommy Makinson, 3. Jordan Turner, 4. Mark Percival, 5. Adam Swift, 7. Luke Walsh, 8. Alex Walmsley, 9. James Roby, 10. Kyle Amor, 11. Atelea Vea, 12. Jon Wilkin, 13. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, 14. Lama Tasi, 15. Greg Richards, 16. Andre Savelio, 17. Luke Thompson, 18. Dominique Peyroux, 19. Theo Fages, 20. Joe Greenwood, 22. Jack Owens.

The game kicks off at 8pm and the referee will be Robert Hicks.