SAINTS will ‘definitely’ welcome back full back Lachlan Coote for Saturday’s home Challenge Cup clash against holders Leeds Rhinos.

And the Saints boss Kristian Woolf is confident that England centre Mark Percival could play in the knockout clash at the TWS.

Coote has not played all year, while Percival tweaked his hamstring on the opening day of the Super League season.

Although Saints have been well-served by Jack Welsby at full back, Woolf wants a player of Coote’s quality and experience back on the field.

Woolf said: “We want our best 17 out on the field. # “We have been really cautious with Lachalan Coote over the last couple of weeks.

“He has the ability to play but we have wanted to make sure we had the running in him and not put him in a position where he is just going to get through a game, but he is going to get through it at the quality he can play at and be able to keep playing at that for the weeks after it.

“He definitely will play this week, there is no doubt there.

St Helens Star:

“We have got a couple of training sessions to get through but we are pretty confident on Mark Percival as well.”

Young hooker Aaron Smith, who left the field last week against Hull KR with a head knock, has a chance of playing depending how he comes through his recovery in line with the protocols.

Agnatius Paasi returns after recovering fromn his Round One head knock that forced him to miss last week.

Where Coote's return leaves Jack Welsby for Saturday will be finalised later in the week, but Woolf added: "Jack has been outstanding as full back and he is a very good footy player with a lot of versatility in him. 

"He is a bloke who I think we will find a spot for somewhere - but that is somethinig I will finalise and make public later in the week."