Keiron Cunningham back as St Helens seek to extend Warrington's woe

Keiron Cunningham will return from injury to begin the countdown to the end of his outstanding career as St Helens aim to maintain their Super League hex over Warrington on Saturday night. Cunningham has watched Saints' last five matches with growing frustration after the club's medical officials refused to allow him to take any chances with a damaged toe. But the 33-year-old hooker, who recently confirmed he will join the coaching staff when he retires at the end of the season, will definitely play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium to ensure his match fitness for the Challenge Cup semi-final against Leeds on Saturday week. "He's been giving the medical staff some grief," said the St Helens coach, Mick Potter. "He knows he needs a run-out before the semi-final." The toe injury has scuppered Cunningham's hopes of becoming the second player, after Kel Coslett, to reach 500 Saints appearances. Even if they make the cup final and feature in every round of the Super League play-offs, he would only be able to add 10 to his tally of 488. His return will provoke wearily familiar feelings in Warrington, given the crucial role he has played in many of the 37 defeats the Wolves have suffered in the 40 derbies of the Super League era. Two of the other three games were drawn and Warrington's only win against St Helens since 1996 came at Wilderspool more than nine years ago, when several of the Saints players had at least one eye on the Challenge Cup final against Bradford at Twickenham the following week. The cup could also act as a distraction on Saturday because Warrington are also one step from a return to Wembley, facing the Catalans Dragons on Sunday week in the second of the semis. However, the Super League points are significant as the local rivals are battling for second place in the final table which would carry the reward of home advantage in another derby in the first round of the play-offs. "We know it is a big fortnight and we are looking forward to it," Potter said. "The coaching staff have looked a little at next week's semi-final, but the focus is for Warrington and we're excited about that. "It looks like it will be a fantastic atmosphere and probably sell out. We aren't in that luxurious position to rest players, though, and if someone isn't fit, they won't play. We had 11 out last week with injuries and it looks like that will be nine this week. "We're all aware of the record and it's a good one to have, but it doesn't come into the thinking. It can take your eye off what you want to do." Saints will rest their Australian centre Matt Gidley to ensure his fitness for the semi-final and Warrington have recalled Matt King, Paul Wood and Louis Anderson to their squad after all three missed last Saturday's league defeat by the Catalans in Perpignan. The Super League leaders, Wigan, have confirmed that their assistant coach, Shaun Wane, will again be in charge of the team for Friday's televised game at Leeds in the continued absence of Michael Maguire, who returned home to Australia on compassionate leave before last Friday's 46-0 win at Hull. Rob Burrow, Jamie Peacock and Keith Senior return to the Leeds squad after missing last Sunday's win at Salford.