JAMES Roby, the only ever-present member of the Saints squad, will miss his first game of the season as Royce Simmons prepares to field a young side against Harlequins.

With one eye on the play-offs, Simmons wants to give his talismanic hooker chance to get over a troublesome wrist injury so he is fighting fit to lead Saints’ charge, which will begin with a visit to either Wigan or Warrington.

Francis Meli and Sia Soliola are also expected to miss the trip to London as a precaution but Gary Wheeler is set to start at left centre for his first match at senior level since damaging a shoulder against Wigan in April.

Simmons told the Star: “All the boys still said ‘I want to play’, they don’t like missing games and they want to keep their timing up.

“They are all about wanting to keep their combinations up with the players inside and outside of them. But at the end of the day we want to be going to the semi-finals knowing that we're strong and fit.

“I said I wouldn’t pick an under strength side, and I’m not, I’m picking a fit side. An inexperienced side, but a fit side. All the boys taking the field will be 100 per cent, they will be fit.

“If this was a Grand Final all those blokes would play but I’m just not going to take the risk with them.”

With the play offs just over a week away, many pundits have been suggesting it is a two-horse race between Wigan and Warrington.

Simmons, who expects to have Tony Puletua , Chris Flannery and possibly Kyle Eastmond fit for next week, said the media casting Saints as underdogs is a role that suits his players.

He added: “I’m happy to go in as the underdog, it suits me really well. We’re underdog only to maybe the media and maybe to the fans of them clubs, we’re not an underdog from the way we think about it or our fans think about it but I’m happy to have them think we're the underdog.

“My fans and my team aren’t thinking that way.

“We just want to be the best side in the competition and that’s our motivation. I don’t think it’s anything about proving people wrong.

“I think it’s more about proving to yourself and to each other and to your immediate family. I don’t care too much about anyone else.”

Meanwhile, Simmons insists the London side will not be taken lightly, with Saints suffering a 27-16 defeat at the hands of Rob Powell’s men back in March.

Saturday’s fixture will also mark the final appearance for the Harlequins captain, Rob Purdham, after a decade at the club.

Simmons hinted that Carl Forster may be making his first-team debut and Scott Hale will also be named in the squad.

He also confirmed Ade Gardner is making steady progress in his recovery from an Achilles’ tendon injury and the winger could make a return for the later stages of the play offs.