Fozzard rested

But Saints welcome back Kiwi Test prop Jason Cayless, who returned on Sunday after attending his mother's funeral in Australia.

Unlike last August Saints will send their strongest possible team across the Channel, with the only other absentee being Leon Pryce, who still has two further matches of his suspension to serve.

Coach Daniel Anderson said: "With Leeds and Bradford putting us under the hammer we have no opportunity to rest players. And anyhow we are three weeks away from Wembley and so have to keep playing."

Saints have a two point lead over Leeds Rhinos at the Super League summit - and are keen to pull off an unprecedented summer era back-to-back double.

Both Fozzard, who has been playing powerfully in recent weeks, and Gilmour, who groggily limped off the field on Friday night, will be available for the following weekend's trip to Salford.

"There is nothing dramatic about their injuries - but they are building up the amount of strapping they need each week so it is better to give them a break and let them recover," Anderson added.

The fact that they are playing Catalans two weeks before the Wembley showpiece has no bearings on the way Saints will play the game.

The Saints coach said: "We have had this before, playing Bulls two weeks before we played them in the semi, and likewise with Warrington in the quarter final."

With Casey McGuire injured, Catalans will rely even more heavily on their kingpin Stacey Jones to make them tick.

He is a player who Anderson rates highly, and having coached him in the Test arena, knows his strengths.

"There is more responsibility on his shoulders now, but he has carried that off before in the Test arena. Catalan have a lot of very good players and Adam Mogg in particular has been a very good buy for them.

"They are playing a more consistent style of rugby this year - even if that is not reflected in their results," Anderson added.