INJURY hit Saints conclude their third consecutive week of away fixtures with a trip to the Jungle against a Castleford Tigers outfit desperate to salvage something from the season.

After two convincing awayday victories, Friday promises to be the tougher task for a Saints side missing Anthony Sullivan, Mick Higham and question marks over Anthony Stewart, David Fairleigh and Sonny Nickle.

Although the Tigers were skinned in London at the weekend they are an altogether more dangerous beast on their own patch.

Saints' coach Ian Millward said: "This is the toughest of our three aways - Cas are a top six side and although the Jungle is a good experience for players, it also commands a lot of respect. This is Castleford's last throw of the dice on Friday night because if they lose that is their season finished."

Castleford have survived the turmoil of losing coach Stuart Raper to Wigan, and last Sunday's result apart, have been putting together some impressive performances. "They have had a lot injury problems but now those players are coming back on deck - like Adrian Vowles and Michael Eager - their squad strength is improving," said the Saints boss.

MICK Higham is expected to be out for eight weeks, effectively the rest of the season, after catching a late, raised elbow from Salford's full back Gary Broadbent whilst trying to chase a kick through.

Saints' coach said: "Mick has a face like the elephant man. It was an horrendous and totally unecessary challenge. After the game he collapsed and his mouth would not stop bleeding.

"He will be missed because Mick gives us a lot of options and brings a lot of enthusiasm and speed to our game. It is a very big loss and the players are very upset about it, not just because of the injury but because of the way it will affect us."

Higham becomes the fifth Saints player to suffer serious facial injury, accidental or otherwise, this season.

Paul Sculthorpe twice, Peter Shiels and Wayne McDonald have all suffered long lay offs.

Millward hoped for strong action from the league - Sunday's culprit Broadbent was banned for five games and fined £500 at Tuesday's disciplinary meeting

IAN Millward was keeping his fingers crossed that the trio of players -Keiron Cunningham, Paul Wellens and Paul Sculthorpe - involved in Tuesday night's international come through unscathed. He was particularly aware of the task facing Cunningham.

"I did not play Keiron a lot of minutes last Sunday because I wanted to keep him fresh for Tuesday.

"If you look how much stronger the English team is, I knew he would have to weather some big storms and do a lot of work. It is a big ask for him especially with us having to back up on Friday.

"With Mick out it is even bigger ask on Keiron, but I'm sure he will put his hand up because he has been absolutely tremendous over the past fortnight," said the Saints coach.

Wellens' late try sealed a 42-33 win for England, with Sculthorpe continuing his points spree with a hat-trick against the plucky Welsh.

WHILE others in rugby league get in a flap over Wigan's headline grabbing flirtation with rugby union, player poaching and the game's so-called imminent demise, Ian Millward was keeping his cool.

He said: "Clive Woodward has a tremendous phone book at the moment and seems to know the numbers of most rugby league players and has phoned my players regularly, even before the Twickenham Cup Final.

"It is very mischievious, but they have only signed Henry Paul, who has given nine years to RL and is on his last contract.

"For the amount of phone calls they have made to the ratio of players they have signed, their success rate is very poor."

SAINTS have snapped up Chris Campbell, the Whitehaven and ex-Warrington winger, on loan for the rest of the season.

Campbell, out of contract with the Cumbrians, has recovered from a smashed jaw sustained at Doncaster in April.

Campbell's father David played for St Helens before becoming a top referee.