SAINTS coach Paul Wellens has given a fitness and availabilty update ahead of Friday's home game with Hull FC.

They get Curtis Sironen back from suspension, but they have decided to keep Will Hopoate out for another week. 

He expects Mark Percival and James Roby to feature despite them taking knocks during a tough physical game at Leigh Leopards. 

Wellens said: "There were a few bumps and bruises. And when you are James Roby's age sometimes it takes a few days longer to get over.

"But they are all good to go and have all trained really well this afternoon, so all being well they will both play on Friday night."

Wellens also explained why he began with Alex Walmsley on the bench on Friday, rather than his traditional starting role.

"Alex's training was disrupted because he had an infection that caused him to feel a little unwell and he did not quite get the training exposure that we would have liked him to.

 

"It was a late call on Al on whether he would play and I did not want to go into the game with players not wondering whether they would be starting or on the bench, so to make it cleaner I started Agnatius.

"We thought Al could bring something off the bench," he said.

Meanwhile Hopoate, who has not featured since the World Club Challenge win over Penrith Panthers, will be kept out for a further week.

Wellens said the Tongan international could play this week at a push, but given his past injury record will stay out until the Huddersfield game in a week's time to get a further week's training. 

"It will frustrate a lot of our supporters, but Will is going to be another week.

"At a push Will could play this weekend, and could confidently take the field.

"But we have a medical team here (who look at this) - if it had been a player that hadn't been through Will's recent history then we would be more likely to take a chance this weekend and play him.

"What we are conscious of is that Will gets the adequate training exposure next week, so he can confidently take part in the game.

"He has had a fair bit, but given his injury history it is important that he gets that bit more in him.

"It is frustrating for me as a coach - and for Will as a player, because he would love to be playing.

"But it is important that we are patient because we want the best of Will Hopoate moving forward," Wellens said.

They welcome back Sironen from suspension, but both Konrad Hurrell and Sione Mata'utia are serving the second of their two-match bans.

Saints are also still without long-term casualty Joe Batchelor.