SAINTS will be without James Roby, Tommy Makinson and Morgan Knowles for Friday’s Super League opener against Salford.

Prop Kyle Amor, however, still has a chance of being available and will undergo fitness tests this week on his shoulder.

Coach Kristian Woolf explained that the three players who underwent surgery were all in the process of seeing their specialists this week to see exactly when they can be  cleared for playing.

Woolf said: “I would expect all three of them to be back within the timescale of two to four weeks.

“Two of them may take two, the other may be three or four weeks."

Asked if any of the players - not back in week two or three - would need a game before the Sydney Roosters World Club Challenge match in week four, Woolf replied: “I would have no qualms about putting them straight in for the Sydney Roosters game, based on what they have done in the past and on how diligent they have been with their rehab and recovery.

“I would have no dramas about throwing those guys in.

“James Roby speaks for himself, Tommy Makinson is the best winger in this competition and Morgan Knowles is heading down that same path.”

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Although Saints are pretty well-blessed for front rowers, Woolf explained that he wants to give the experienced Cumbrian front rower Amor every opportunity to take the field for the opener.

“Kyle has a chance. We just need to put him through some fitness tests this week to see what we do with him,” Woolf said.

“I have seen how hard Kyle has worked in the pre-season. I don’t know what he has been like in the past, but I have seen how much effort and how honest he has been and he deserves every opportunity to make himself available if he can.

“He is champing at the bit to do that.

“It is a real positive that there is some healthy competition in there. Everyone has worked hard and that drives blokes to work that little bit harder.

“They all want to make sure they don’t let anybody else get the jump. Once you are in, you are in – it is up to you then.”

In place of the recovering Makinson, Jack Welsby is still a possibility after starting there in the friendly against London, although Woolf explained that Kevin Naiqama can move out to the flank and that Matty Costello could play wing or centre.

Woolf will announce his first Saints match squad on Wednesday for Friday’s game.