IN an injury news update, Kristian Woolf confirmed why centre Mark Percival is not going to feature in tomorrow night's Saints clash with Leigh Centurions at the Totally Wicked Stadium.

“Mark is very healthy. I had him in the office yesterday wanting to play, which is a really good sign," said the Saints head coach.

“We just thought with the number of short turnarounds that we’ve had already, and the number of short turnarounds that we’ve got coming up and in particular playing a Thursday into a Monday that it wasn’t a smart idea to take that little bit of a risk with the fact that he’s not too long back from some fairly serious injuries.

“He’s one that we want to keep fit and healthy, and that’s certainly not a show of any disregard for this game whatsoever. We’re throwing out a very strong side because of the respect we have for the game and the opposition. We just thought in Mark’s case in particular it is important we look after him.”

Hooker Josh Eaves has been brought back from his loan period at Leigh to replace Percival in the squad, in advance of a busy schedule that includes Saints heading to Warrington Wolves on bank holiday Monday, kick-off 7.30pm.

Woolf said: “We had a plan that once we got into this period that we were always going to bring home our guys that we did have out on loan, just to make sure that we have all our players in our camp training together.

"Because the fact is when you’re playing three games over 10 days you’re going to use all the players and we need all of our players close to home so that we can use them.”

Sione Mata'utia and Kyle Amor did not figure in the win against Wigan on Friday but are named in the 21-man squad and Woolf gave an update on their situations too.

“Sione copped a bit of an ankle injury the week before against Cas," said Woolf.

" He copped it with about 12 minutes to go and did really well to finish the game strongly.

“That just didn’t quite improve enough in the period of time that we had before the Wigan game. There was going to be a real risk of putting him in that game with the swelling he had in the ankle. That’s completely resolved now so he’s ready to go.

“Kyle was a little bit unlucky last weekend. He’s done a terrific job for us all year and had played in every game and been a really big part of the success we’ve had around the Challenge Cup and the games we’ve played this year to be in a strong position now.

"James Roby copped a knock the week before and we thought we needed a different balance on the bench with a bit of cover with Aaron Smith, so that’s why Kyle missed out but he’s certainly back in the fold this week.”

With the games coming thick and fast, Woolf said the plan is to pick the team that he feels can get the job done against Leigh and then review fitness and availability to decide on the look of the side to face Warrington four days later.

“I think it has to be the way and I think every team is in the same boat. And I’d be very surprised if teams aren’t doing the same thing at this time of the year," said Woolf.

“The reality is we’ve got five games of footy over four weeks and then we’re into the finals. So every game is important. This game’s extremely important and that’s the way we’re approaching it.

"Once we get through this game, then we can scrub ourselves up and see where we’re at footy wise, who’s fit and who’s not, and then get everyone back out there for Warrington.

"And we know that’s going to be a really tough and intense game as well. But both teams will be in the same boat, and it becomes a little bit of a battle of wits and wills as opposed to who’s fresh because there’s no advantage to anyone. I think that’s the only way we can go.”