DEMON BARBA HAS HAIR OF DESPERATION

SINNER turned Saint Ben Barba is desperate to reach next month’s Super League Grand Final to avoid a quick return to pre-season training.

Nearly 11 months since his last game of rugby league Barba (right) will make his St Helens debut in Friday’s showdown with archrivals Wigan.

It is the first of four Super Eights fixtures facing Saints in their bid to make next month’s play-off semifinals.

Barba, 28, expected to play at full-back, has been out since signing from French rugby union side Toulon in May, forced to complete a 12-week ban for cocaine use imposed by the NRL in Australia. “It’s one of the longest pre-seasons I have had,” said Barba. “Hopefully, I haven’t forgotten too much and I can still play. “I didn’t know what to expect especially coming off the suspension or if people would accept me.

“But they have been positive – and I don’t want to play four games and be back in pre-season again.”