Pryce hoping for Long shot at another title

Stand off Pryce, who will make history by appearing in his seventh Grand Final, said: "We want him out there because Longy is, without question, the most talented player I've ever played with."

Pryce (centre): chasing his fifth Grand Final win

Pryce, who was 26 on Tuesday, is surrounded by quality in a St Helens squad bidding to repeat last season's Grand Slam, and left behind some great players when he moved from Bradford Bulls to Saints two years ago.

So what is so special about Long? Pryce said: "Longy can win a game on his own as he has done so many times in the past. And he is made for big games like this. Maybe it would be a bit of a risk to play him but we need him."

Great Britain's Long, 31, who flew home early from the Tri-Nations tournament Down Under last year because of exhaustion, is the only player to have won the Lance Todd Trophy, for man of the match, in the Challenge Cup Final three times.

The scrum half has not lost in four Grand Finals for Saints, captaining them to a runaway victory against Hull last year.

It was Long who ruined the 18-year-old Pryce's first Grand Final for his hometown club Bradford in 1999 with a touchline conversion that sealed the game for Saints.

But Pryce is over that now. He said: "I've been very lucky to have played in six Grand Finals, five for Bradford and one for Saints, and having lost in a couple of them, I appreciate the wins all the more."

When Pryce moved to Knowsley Road after nine seasons at Bradford, Saints coach Daniel Anderson gave the 'utility back' a chance to forge a half back partnership with Long.

Pryce, who had made most of his appearances for Bradford and Great Britain on the wing, relishes the change. "When I came from Bradford I knew I had the ability to play at No 6 but I needed guidance and a coach who was prepared to invest a bit of time in me," he said.

"Daniel has taught me so much and I hope I have repaid his confidence. Obviously it helps to play in such a good team. But things couldn't have gone much better for me than they have in the last two seasons."

Pryce would have been an ever-present for Saints this season but for a three-match ban for 'ungentlemanly conduct' after a below-the-belt challenge on Bradford's Sam Burgess.

He still lives in the Bradford area and some criticised him for crossing the Pennines. But he said: "I can take that any day of the week as long as I am successful with St Helens. I have got another year on my contract at St Helens and I hope to stay even longer."

For the moment, he is focused on a record seventh Grand Final and winning a fifth gold winner's ring.