AGAR’S FRESH OLD BID

St Helens v Leeds 7.45pm

BY GARETH WALKER RICHARD AGAR hopes his side’s freshness will prove key as they bid to reach Old Trafford.

The Leeds Rhinos coach (right) has dealt with lengthy injuries and suspensions all season but has a near fully-fit squad to take to favourites St

Helens. Agar said: “Motivation this week isn’t a factor and neither is freshness for us.

“We’ve got a lot of players who have only played 11, 12, 13 or 14 games this year.

“Usually at this stage of the year your training is minimal, you’re patching the team up and clinging on a bit for what are always high-intensity games. But we’ve still got a lot of running in our legs and freshness about the squad.”

Sione Mata’utia returns for Saints after hobbling off against the Rhinos last month, while Agnatius Paasi is back from suspension.

Agar has named an unchanged squad from the one that won 8-0 at Wigan.