YOUNG guns Regan Grace, Calvin Wellington, Danny Richardson and Ricky Bailey will be among the promising group of Saints starlets who will get a shot at Super League this year.

Saints boss Keiron Cunningham declared that the exciting youngsters will get their chance during the course of the season - and expects them to seize it with both hands.

And in a departure from previous seasons, Cunningham said he would have no hesitation at pitching Richardson in at the halves should Theo Fages pick up a knock during the campaign.

He also heaped praise on Welsh flyer Grace — a player that the fans are desperate to see get a chance racing down the first team flanks after progressing well in the under 19s.

Cunningham said: “Regan Grace is exploding out of the blocks and has had one of the best pre-seasons I have seen a kid have.

“The back end of Regan’s last season was his strongest for the club and he should have been man of the match in the Grand Final.

“He was outstanding, the best player on the field.

“And we all know if you have not got pace then you have to go and buy it. We have it in abundance in Swifty and in young Regan.

“He will get a shot at some point because he earns a shot. His chance will come round like it will for all those young kids.”

In the halves, Richardson showed off his footballing abilities during the Saints under 19s undefeated campaign which was sealed with his match-winning golden point penalty in the Grand Final.

The 20-year-old former Halton Hornets half back’s performances have not gone unnoticed.

“Danny has been outstanding and he will get a chance this year,” Cunningham said.

“You can’t hold players back for the sake of it.

“If they are ready to go and are going to make you a better team then you have to give them a shot.

“If young Theo goes down, Danny is going to drop straight in.

“He has trained that well in pre-season and more than proved himself in the reserves and juniors last year that he is ready.

“He is a good kicker, plays his plays well and defends as well as he can in that position. Danny has got a bright future ahead of him.”

All of the youngsters will get a showing on Sunday during the friendly against Widnes as a reward for the way they have trained, but for some that won’t be the end of their involvement this term.

Cunningham said: “Some of the young players are definitely on the brink.

“Form, effort and leadership dictate here, not reputation, so if one of those kids come in and start doing well they won’t look back.”

Two of those, full back Bailey and centre Wellington, have already already had brief dips into the first team — and their progression has not been derailed by what was in both cases a tough experience.

Cunningham feels they are both ready for Super League.

“Ricky has been outstanding for two years and has progressed and is ready to be Jonny’s back up.

“Calvin got a game last year at Magic, although it was in unfortunate circumstances, but he has progressed again.

“We also have Matty Fleming and Jake Spedding too who have played some games.

“We have established Super League and NRL players from 1-5 but behind that we have young players who now who would make another Super League side.

“We have a fair bit of depth with experienced juniors in the outside backs.”