POWERHOUSE prop Darren Britt has played his last game for Saints.

The heavyweight front rower suffered a sickening eye-socket injury following a first minute clash of heads during Saturday's bruising victory over Hull.

Although the club have made no comment - only to say that an announcement will be made at Knowsley Road prior to Friday night's Super League clash with Castleford (8pm kick-off) - it is highly likely that the big Aussie has already retired.

And the injury situation in general was so bad after the Hull victory that coach Ian Millward wrote off Saints' hopes of defending their Super League crown (see match report).

Former Aussie Test prop Britt's face was still so swollen that it has yet to be x-rayed - but early diagnosis was not good.

The loss of Britt, by far Saints' biggest and most consistent forward this season, is a massive blow.

He has been a tower of strength all year, and will be particularly missed when squaring up to the big packs of Leeds, Wigan and Bradford at the sharp end of the season.

Commenting on Britt's injury Saints coach Ian Millward said: "We are a smaller team now without Britt and we now have to adjust the way we play to suit our personnel.

"So Friday night is a bit of a start of a new era for us. It is going to be tough for us."

Looking ahead to the clash with the Tigers, Millward added: "Cas will make it tough for us. They have to win on Friday night if they are to make the top six - it is their day on Friday, particularly as they are in the toughest part of the draw."

Joining Britt on the sidelines after Saturday night's battle are Mark Edmondson, John Kirkpatrick, Mick Higham and Darren Albert.

They join skipper Chris Joynt, vice-captain Paul Sculthorpe, Martin Gleeson, Darren Smith and Paul Newlove, who are already on treatment tables.