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Rugby League

Long ruled out for St Helens

27/09/2007

St Helens will have to do without the services of key-man Sean Long for tomorrow night's Super League qualifying semi-final match against Leeds Rhinos after the scrum-half was ruled out with a hamstring injury.

Long has missed Saint's previous two games due to the injury and he failed a fitness test today. Prop Maurie Fa'asavalau also failed a fitness test and is out of the game at Knowsley Road.

Saints coach Daniel Anderson has drafted in the experienced Nic Fozzard and youngster Matty Smith to his squad.

St Helens are once again favourites to overcome Leeds and win the Grand Final at Old Trafford on October 13th.

But the Rhinos have beaten the Challenge Cup winners twice this season and St Helens full back Paul Wellens has warned his team-mates not to underestimate their opposition.

"We've failed to beat them this year, which probably gives us added motivation to go out and perform well," said Wellens.

"They ran away with the game at Headingley but, not to make any excuses, we had a few players out, while the game at Knowsley Road could have gone either way."

Leeds, meanwhile, only have prop Nick Scruton missing with injury. Forward Jamie Peacock insists Leeds will go all out for victory even though if they lose they will get a second chance to reach the Grand Final in the final eliminator against either Hull or Wigan.

"It's nice not to have the pressure - that's one of the benefits of coming in the top two - but you don't think that way," Peacock said. "You want to go in and win the game."