SAINTS take on Huddersfield Giants tonight (8.15pm) in the Challenge Cup quarter final at Headingley.

The game is part of a double-header in Leeds coming after the Catalans Dragons v Warrington Wolves clash and is live on Sky.

The following day’s quarters feature Hull v Wigan and Salford v Castleford are on the BBC.

In injury news James Bentley’s broken leg and long-term absence was confirmed earlier this week. He joins prop Matty Lees (ankle) on the sidelines.

Saints welcome back wing Tommy Makinson and second row Joel Thompson and they have also included Morgan Knowles in the 21-man squad.

Makinson’s return into a fully fit back five will leave an interesting selection headache for coach Kristian Woolf.

St Helens Star:

Jack Welsby has been playing well, too well to be left out, but he is the only one of the six who offers real versatility off the bench and that could be a factor in the decision.

Bench-wise, much depends on what happens with Knowles – having not featured all year, he would lack match fitness to play big minutes.

Mata'utia switches to his more natural second row, partnering Thompson.

Joe Batchelor is fit after recovering from a head knock last week and can cover the back row.

Giants proved a fortnight ago that they are a tough nut to crack before Saints won 18-10.

Last time out they twice unpicked the Saints defence with the long pass to the right – something Saints will have worked on to correct.

Aidan Sezer is the linchpin of the Giants attack and the one Saints must keep the shackles on.

St Helens Star:

The physical confrontation between James Gavet and Alex Walmsley will not simply be an interesting sideshow – but one that is vital in securing the platform to play.

Giants are a robust side; Luke Yates repeatedly puts in big hits and leaves his mark while Kenny Edwards always causes problems and has an ability to get under the opposition’s skin.

There are a number of ex-Saints in the Giants squad; Lee Gaskell, Joe Greenwood, Josh Jones and Jack Ashworth.

Giants pulled off a thrilling 14-13 win over Leeds last week, their first Super League win since Ian Watson took over.

St Helens Star:

Saints: 1, Lachlan Coote, 2, Tommy Makinson, 3. Kevin Naiqama, 4, Mark Percival, 5. Regan Grace, 6. Jonny Lomax, 7. Theo Fages, 8. Alex Walmsley, 9. James Roby, 11. Joel Thompson, 13, Morgan Knowles, 14. Sione Mata’utia, 15. LMS, 16. Kyle Amor, 17, Agnatius Paasi, 18. Jack Welsby, 19, Aaron Smith, 20, Joe Batchelor, 21. Lewis Dodd, 25. Dan Norman, 29. Ben Davies.

Huddersfield: 1 Jermaine McGillvary, 2 Ricky Leutele, 3 Darnell McIntosh, 4 Lee Gaskell, 5 Aidan Sezer, 6 Luke Yates, 7 Adam O’Brien, 8 Michael Lawrence, 9 Ken Edwards, 10 Josh Jones, 11 Matty English, 12 Joe Greenwood, 13 Jack Cogger, 14 Chris McQueen, 15 Jack Ashworth, 16 James Cunningham, 17 Oliver Wilson, 18 Leroy Cudjoe, 19 James Gavet, 20 Owen Trout, 21 Sam Wood.

Last ten meetings:

Huddersfield 10, St Helens 18 (SLR4, 22/4/21)

Huddersfield 6, St Helens 54 (SLR11, 4/9/20)

(at Emerald Headingley, Leeds)

St Helens 10, Huddersfield 12 (SLR6, 6/3/20)

St Helens 48, Huddersfield 6 (SLR28, 6/9/19)

St Helens 38, Huddersfield 2 (SLR18, 14/6/19)

Huddersfield 16, St Helens 22 (CCR6, 12/5/19)

Huddersfield 12, St Helens 40 (SLR6, 14/3/19)

St Helens 12, Huddersfield 16 (SLS8-R1, 10/8/18)

St Helens 66, Huddersfield 4 (SLR12, 20/4/18)

Huddersfield 12, St Helens 26 (SLR3, 23/2/18)

Previous Challenge Cup meetings:

2019 (Round 6) Huddersfield 16 St Helens 22

2014 (Round 4) Huddersfield 16 St Helens 17

2009 (Semi-Final) Huddersfield 24 St Helens 14

(at Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington)

2006 (FINAL) Huddersfield 12 St Helens 42

(at Twickenham)

2005 (Round 4) Huddersfield 22 St Helens 26

2004 (Semi-Final) Huddersfield 6 St Helens 46

(at Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington)

2001 (Quarter Final) St Helens 54 Huddersfield 16

1994 (Round 4) Huddersfield 16 St Helens 23

1981 (Round 1) Huddersfield 8 St Helens 10

1978 (Quarter Final) St Helens 31 Huddersfield 5

1972 (Round 2) St Helens 32 Huddersfield 9

1968 (Round 1) St Helens 0 Huddersfield 5

1962 (Round 2) St Helens 2 Huddersfield 13

1954 (Round 2) Huddersfield 12 St Helens 5

1953 (FINAL) Huddersfield 15 St Helens 10

(at Wembley Stadium)

1937 (Round 1) St Helens 4 Huddersfield 11

1924 (Round 2) Huddersfield 24 St Helens 13

1915 (FINAL) Huddersfield 37 St Helens 3

(at Watersheddings, Oldham)

1913 (Round 1) St Helens 0 Huddersfield 19

St Helens Star:

Milestones

TOMMY MAKINSON needs two tries to reach 150 for his career.

- 141 for St Helens (2011-2021)

- 3 for Rochdale Hornets (2013, dual-registration)

- 4 for England (2018)

(0 for Whitehaven, 2013, dual-registration)

JAMES GAVET needs one appearance to reach 100 for his career.

- 20 for Huddersfield Giants (2020-2021)

- 18 for Newcastle Knights (2019)

- 42 for New Zealand Warriors (2016-2018)

- 2 for Brisbane Broncos (2015)

- 12 for Wests Tigers (2014)

- 1 for Canterbury Bulldogs (2012)

- 4 for Samoa (2016, 2018-2019)