SAINTS are hopeful of having three senior players back in the reckoning for Friday night’s trip to Perpignan to face fourth-placed Catalans.

It is an important game, with Saints looking to build on their fine win over Warrington the week before the international break, a victory would see the men in the red vee move ahead of the Dragons on the table.

Although Saints still have players like Agnatius Paasi, Mark Percival and Sione Mata’utia sidelined with injury and Morgan Knowles sitting out the penultimate game of his five-match ban, they expect to have Alex Walmsley, Curtis Sironen and Tommy Makinson on the plane to the South of France.

Coach Paul Wellens said: “Tommy Makinson is making good progress so he will be in contention, provided he continues to improve the way he is.

“And both Alex Walmsley and Curtis Sironen have a few little things to tick off with regards to physio but we are pleased with the way they are progressing and they come back into the reckoning if they come through fit as well.

“That would be a timely boost for the team.”

Saints have been without the physical presence of Walmsley for the whole of April after the international prop suffered a hamstring injury in the Wakefield game at the end of March.

With other packmen still out, Wellens is pleased to get Walmsley back in the fold and running in tandem with front row Matty Lees.

Wellens said: “Alex is one of the best, if not the best, front rowers in Super League for a reason and that is because he brings a lot of things that others can’t.

“In his absence Matty Lees has been our stand-out performer this year, but having them both back on the field together would be a huge plus.”