Millward expects Saints to halt run of defeats

Ian Millward is in unknown territory in his coaching career as he takes St Helens into their match against Warrington at Knowsley Road today after a run of four defeats.

Losing to a badly under-strength Wigan side on Good Friday continued Saints' alarming slide from last season's form, which saw them finish as Super League Champions. Warrington, much-improved this season under Paul Cullen, can expect to feel the backlash, with the likes of Paul Sculthorpe and Sean Long still smarting from the Wigan defeat and St Helens also able to call upon Tommy Martyn, now fully recovered from a broken arm.

The visitors hope their captain, Lee Briers, will have recovered from a shoulder injury in time to face his old club. Mark Hilton and Ian Sibbit are also rated doubtful.

In today's other Super League games, Huddersfield are looking for their fourth win in a row against Castleford, while Hull fear that they will be without Jason Smith for the visit of the bottom club, Halifax. The playmaker went off with a shoulder injury during their defeat at Bradford on Friday night and is not expected to recover in time. Hull have also borrowed back their former winger Gareth Raynor from Leicester rugby union club, initially for this match only, to help them over their injury problems.