SAINTS kick off their pre-season friendly campaign on Sunday when they tackle local rivals Widnes Vikings in the annual Karalius Cup fixture.

The game will allow new coach Keiron Cunningham the opportunity to run the rule over his full squad – revealing that places are genuinely up for grabs.

Although Cunningham already has strong ideas of which players he expects to fill certain roles, others are up for grabs.

And once all his injured players are back in the fold, selection will present Cunningham with his first big call as head coach.

Explaining his thinking behind selection, Cunningham said: “I have my top tier players who are going to be in – and that is a no-brainer - as is including the players who we have brought in otherwise we wouldn’t have brought them here.

“I’ve made my mind up on wing spots and centre spots, but some areas I have not made my mind up on yet.

“It is all open to debate.”

Cunningham, however, will not be starting with a blank piece of paper after some players earned huge credits with the way they finished the 2014 campaign.

The Saints boss expects those younger players to kick on further in the season ahead.

“Luke Thompson and Greg Richards are just going to sail after the season they had last year. They were two of the best players in the Grand Final and they were babies.

“On top of that they have had a great pre-season – and that is the third one they have had, which is always a good one – especially so coming off the back of the Grand Final - I am expecting big things of them this year,” he said.

Sunday’s game against the Vikings at Langtree Park kicks off at 3pm and will be Saints fans’ first chance to see new boys Atelea Vea and Travis Burns in the red vee.

It is likely the full top squad will get a run, although Lance Hohaia misses through suspension and Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook is not quite ready to return.

Saints tackle Wigan on Sunday, 25 January with a fixture against Rochdale the following Friday.