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SAINTS coach Daniel Anderson believes his injury-ravaged side can redeem themselves in the challenge that waits at the Reebok Stadium on Friday.

The Super League champions go into the World Club Challenge against the Brisbane Broncos at Bolton after losing their last two games against Harlequins and Wakefield.

More than 19,000 tickets have already been sold for the match, which sees the best two sides in world rugby go head to head.

Anderson said: “Everyone wants to redeem themselves after two below-par performances. For the guys, it’s an opportunity both to relish and to cherish. We’ll be up for it.”

The coach has revealed the extent of the injury difficulties afflicting his treble-winning squad.

He said: “It happens. When it rains it pours. Last season we were very fortunate in injuries in the big games. This year, we’re had our fair share in rounds one and two.”

Anderson has ruled out Samoan forward Maurie Fa’asavalu and said hooker Keiron Cunningham and captain Paul Sculthorpe were both unlikely to play.

Fa’asavalu, who was undergoing a scan, will be out for three to four weeks with knee ligament damage. Anderson said: “I’ll be surprised if he turns up.”

Cunningham, meanwhile, is rated doubtful after picking up a hip injury in Sunday’s 29-22 defeat at Wakefield.

“He’s had a knock on the hip and he’s unlikely. We haven’t given up hope, but he’s less than 50% right now,” said Anderson.

Saints will have New Zealand prop Jason Cayless back in action after missing the game at Belle Vue with a minor Achilles injury and second row Jon Wilkin returns from suspension.

Loose forward Jason Hooper has been virtually ruled out for the season but Anderson said he may yet play against the Broncos in an emergency.

Hooper is due to go in for shoulder stabilisation surgery on Saturday but is prepared to put his body on the line in the Saints cause.

Anderson said: “He’s gone for six months, which is effectively the season. But he’s named in the 20 for Friday because of the unpredictable nature of the injury. He can last one minute or 80 so, depending on fit bodies, he’s ready participate on Friday night.”

The coach added: “We had a bit of a chuckle about it at training today. He’s as tough as they come and if he’s required to play, he’ll play.”

Sculthorpe is continuing to recover from major knee surgery and has only a slight chance of making the game.

The club captain had been due to come back in April but is now expected to be ready for the Warrington clash in two weeks time.

Anderson added: “He’s going pretty good but he’s only completed one team session in total so he’s very unlikely.”

The coach also admitted the scale of the challenge facing his depleted Saints team, whilst putting that challenge in perspective.

He said: “With a full team and everyone fit and ready, it was going to be a difficult challenge to overcome the Broncos any way.

“It’s not going to make any difference. It’s still a difficult challenge. We’re really looking forward to Friday night.

“We’re not going so well at the moment, but one good game restores a lot of confidence.

“We have this Friday to redeem ourselves from a couple of below-par performances which were out of character.

“But we’re moving in the right direction at training.

“I always said this season was not about defending our title, it’s about winning it.”

Sean Long and Jon Wilkin both said the squad was feeling confident ahead of the clash.

Long said: “We’ll be putting our bodies on the line to give this our best shot. I don’t believe we’re at a major disadvantage because we ‘re missing a couple of players.

“I think we’ll be more match-hardened than the Broncos but we’re fully aware of what a world-class side they are and we know we’ll have to perform at our best to beat them.

“I don’t think we’ve been thinking consciously about this game but perhaps, sub-consciously, it has been a factor in our below-par performances in the Super League so far.”

Wilkin said a few minor adjustments, plus hard work in training, would make the difference between success and failure.

He added: “We are all unhappy at the start we’ve made this season but people shouldn’t think that we’re wandering around St Helens with our heads down. We’re not. We’re confident and we are positive that we have the attitude and ability to put things right.”

Kiwi prop Jason Cayless added: “Brisbane are a class side, we know that. But the key to beating them is kind of straight forward.

“We have to more than match them, man for man, throughout the squad, right across the pitch. And we have to do it for the full 80 minutes.

“If we do that, we can beat them.”

Brisbane captain Darren Lockyer also insisted his side would be taking no notice of Saints’ below-par start to the season.

“We’d probably prefer it if they had won last week,” he said. “Injuries and form won’t count for much on Friday night.

“There are plenty of quality players there. We’re not reading much into their last couple of performances.

“Obviously, they’ll be disappointed with them, but we know what sort of form they’re capable of producing.

“They’ve played a few games, and we’ve only had one warm-up against a team in Wales. Whereas we’ve got the advantage that we haven’t any injuries, Saints have got the advantage of playing a bit of footie.”

Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett has made a surprise selection by naming 20-year-old Steven Michaels on the wing ahead of Kiwi test player Tame Tupou.

Michaels, who has made just seven appearances in the NRL, was picked after impressive shows against Queensland Cup team Central Comets and the Celtic Crusaders.

“It was a very close decision,” said Bennett. “I think that the conditions will suit Steve a little better, and he has trialled very well.”

Bennett has made three enforced changes to the side that beat Melbourne 15-8 in October’s Grand Final. Centre David Stagg is absent through injury, while prop Shane Webcke has retired, and utility player Casey McGuire has joined Catalans Dragons.

Michaels fills the three-quarter vacancy, with Karmichael Hunt switching to full-back, while Ben Hannant and Mick Ennis have landed places on the bench, with Corey Parker and Dane Carlaw promoted to the starting line-up.

Carlaw has been given the chance to cement the Broncos number eight jersey vacated by Webcke.

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