Saints set to wait on Long - Sport in brief - Evening Standard
       

Saints set to wait on Long

St Helens will make a late decision on the fitness of scrum-half Sean Long for the Super League Grand Final against Leeds at Old Trafford.

The 31-year-old former Great Britain number seven has been out for more than a month with a hamstring injury, and coach Daniel Anderson has reserve scrum-half Matty Smith once more standing by for Saturday.

Saints also have a doubt over prop Maurie Fa'asavalu, who missed their 10-8 victory over Leeds in the qualifying semi-final with a hamstring problem - and Anderson is prepared to wait for both players.

"They haven't trained with the team," he said. "We'll make a decision later in the week, either Wednesday or Friday.

"By Wednesday, we'd like to see significant progress - and Friday will be the defining decision. We want to give them every opportunity to get themselves right.

"If Longy and Maurie are available, they'll play. If they don't make it, then we roll with what we've got.

"We've prepared for them to play and we've prepared for them not to play."

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