MAKESHIFT props Mike Bennett and John Stankevitch must shoulder a heavy burden on Friday night as Saints seek to stop rivals Wigan from completing a hat-trick of victories this term.

Coach Ian Millward has selected the two young back rowers as his props in the absence of injured Barry Ward, Chris Joynt and Mark Edmondson plus the retired Darren Britt.

They could not face a more daunting challenge than fronting up to heavyweight Kiwi test veterans Craig Smith and Quentin Pongia, with the experienced Terry O'Connor and outstanding Danny Sculthorpe thrown in for good measure.

Although Saints have Keith Mason on the bench for impact, it promises to be a stern test for Millward's mobile front row.

Bennett and Stankevitch won't be fazed by the prospect. Stankevitch had an outstanding game propping against Widnes at the weekend and had no hesitation in standing his ground and slugging it out with Vikings prop Julian O'Neill. Bennett, a Wigan fan as a youngster, never shirks his work in defence and regularly tops the tackle count, but he will have to take some big hits and make some hard yards come Friday night.

"We have a lot of players still out, particularly up front. If you look at Pongia, Smith, O'Connor and Sculthorpe, they beat us in experience and size, so it is obvious where Mike Gregory is going to play us," Millward said.

Saints have twice surrendered healthy leads against the Warriors, who on both previous occasions were fielding weakened sides. This time the boot is on the other foot with the cherry and whites able to call on their big names.

The game should draw in Saints biggest crowd of the season. Home fans will get to see their first sight of Willie Talau who has shown some nice touches in his first two games.

Saints: Wellens; Stewart or Gardner, Newlove, Talau, Albert; Long, Higham; Bennett, Cunningham, Stankevitch, Smith, Jonkers, Hooper. Subs: Stewart/Gardner, Jones, Mason and one TBA.