THE new Saints Reserves will kick off their season on Saturday with a match against Salford Red Devils at Ruskin Drive (2.30pm).

Although the club have recruited players to play specifically alongside the youngsters in the second string, they will be joined by non-playing members of the first grade squad.

The team will be coached by Ian Talbot, and Saints’ head coach Kristian Woolf spelled out how the system will work and what he expects of first teamers dropping down.

Woolf said: “All the guys who are in our top 30 squad, who don’t get picked on Friday will certainly get a run on Saturday.

“That is the idea behind reserves.

The coach (Ian Talbot) is part of our coaching staff and he is going to run the reserves in the same way as the first team; they will run the same plays, the same expectations and will play the same style of what our first grade plays.

“When our top 30 squad members go back we expect them to go back and be the best players and help that team win.

“From where I sit that makes it a really smooth transition and also helps those guys who don’t make round one find a way to be first graders.”

The game at Ruskin kicks off at 2.30pm.

This year all English-based Super League teams have to field reserves, plus London Broncos, Newcastle, Widnes Vikings and Bradford.

Saints currently have no dual registration partner and Woolf said they want to support reserve grade.

“We will see how things go, but if there is no need to change we won’t be doing it for the sake of it,” he said.