Hooker Dom Speakman is set to make his Super League debut when St Helens face Salford at Langtree Park on Friday night.
Speakman, who will celebrate his 19th birthday on the day of the match, has been included in Nathan Brown's 19-man squad following James Roby's ankle injury. He will become the fourth young forward to make his Saints debut this season following the baptism of Alex Walmsley, Anthony Walker and Jordan Hand.
Roby is out for up to 10 weeks but Saints are able to welcome back captain Paul Wellens, who has been out for a month with a calf injury. Jonny Lomax, who filled in brilliantly at full-back in Wellens' absence, is left out of the squad but Tom Makinson or Nathan Ashe could still start ahead of the skipper.
"Wello will return and he'll be playing somewhere for sure. A lot depends on the fitness of the squad as to where that will be," Brown said.
"Wellens' number one thought is the team. Despite what he has achieved in the game, he has put the team first and is happy to play wherever as long as the team is doing well." The home side are also boosted by the return from injury of front-row forwards Josh Perry and Tony Puletua.
Salford have utility back Ryan McGoldrick back from a quad injury in place of loan signing Jack Murphy, who is set to return to Wigan. But forward Vic Mauro will be missing after picking up a knee injury in last week as Salford seek their first away win over St Helens for 33 years.
St Helens squad: Wellens, Gardner, Turner, Soliola, Meli, Hohaia, Perry, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Puletua, Wilkin, Manu, Laffranchi, Flanagan, Clough, Jones, Makinson, Ashe, Walmsley, Speakman.
Salford squad: McGoldrick, Broughton, Gibson, Gleeson, Griffin, Fages, Sneyd, D Williams, Godwin, Nero, Ashurst, Dixon, Wild, Howarth, Foran, Boyle, James, Neal, Owen.