SCAN results have confirmed Saints' worst fears - centre Mark Percival is going to be sidelined for a lengthy spell.

Coach Kristian Woolf had already ruled the England centre out of the World Club Challenge game with the sternum and shoulder injury.

But the results of further scans and medical advice has revealed that Percival will require minor surgery to his shoulder which mean that those weeks of absence will now be several months.

With Tommy Makinson due to return, Kevin Naiqama will be able to revert to the centre at Hull, but the other centre spot could be taken by Matty Costello - or one of the back rows who have filled in there such as James Bentley, Joe Batchelor or Dom Peyroux.

James Roby and Lachlan Coote are both classed as working hard to return shortly.

When Coote does return, Saints will have the option of putting Jack Welsby into the centres depending on how the other measures work in Percival's absence.