Mark Percival could play through the pain barrier in Saturday’s World Club Challenge despite being set for shoulder surgery next week.
The England centre was initially ruled out for several months when he sustained the injury at Warrington earlier this month, but was a shock inclusion in St Helens’ squad yesterday.
He trained with Kristian Woolf’s squad on Wednesday and will do so again today in an attempt to prove his fitness for the showdown with Sydney Roosters.
Woolf confirmed: “He’s a chance of playing.
“It’s been in the media that he needs surgery and he does, that will happen next week.
“We’ve put him through a contact session today and he’s held up well - we’ll see how he holds up tomorrow but he’s a chance.
“He can’t damage the injury any more at all - we wouldn’t put him out there and put his health at risk.
“He already needs some work done there, it’s a matter of whether he can play with a bit of pain and get through the game.”
Woolf is however without winger Regan Grace after he suffered concussion in Sunday’s win at Hull FC, while full-back Lachlan Coote remains sidelined.
But skipper James Roby has been included for the first time this season as Saints bid to win the contest for the third time against a Roosters team that is bidding for a record-equalling fourth title.
Woolf said: “They’re a world class side - the best team in both competitions for the last two years.
“Everyone knows how strong the Roosters are but it’s a great challenge for us.
“Saints were a very dominant side last year when I wasn't here, and deserve their place here in the big occasion.
“It’s the two best teams in the world, and whenever you do that in sport it’s a big occasion.
“It’s a challenge for us and an opportunity - we’ll make sure we play to our strengths and if we play to our best then we’ll be hard to beat.”
Roosters coach Trent Robinson - who hands a debut to young half-back Kyle Flanagan - remains a firm advocate of a fixture that continues to attract mixed enthusiasm on either side of the world.
Robinson said: “Definitely more needs to be done to grow this game, and it’s up to the two governing bodies, Super League and the NRL, to take it to the next step with big promotion.
“This game should have sold out a month ago because of the way the two teams play, but it doesn’t gather momentum until this week.
“But there will be some footy played on Saturday night.”
