WITH Wigan's Central Park ground poised for the bulldozer, Saints appear for the last time there on Sunday, kick-off 4pm.

Victory is particularly vital for Saints as they bid to hold off the challenge of Leeds for second place in Super League, while the Warriors will want to leave a pitch they have played on since 1903 on a high note.

In that time Saints have travelled to Wiga 130 times, losing 90 and winning 33, with seven matches drawn.

Saints will be without the injured Sean Long, but Paul Wellens should be fit and Vila Matauita is back after suspension, while Paul Atcheson has been cleared by the disciplinary committee and could return. All 18,000 tickets have been sold; referee is Stuart Cummings; the complete match will be televised by Sky; and coaches price £5.50 and £4.50 will depart Knowsley Road at 2pm.

Saints have secured a two-year £100,00 Sportsmatch deal with Leigh-based Concrete TS, whose managing director Arthur Thomas is a board member at Knowsley Road. Said football manager Eric Hughes: 'It has to be good news and will help us set up a fitness awareness programme for the community.'

Saints' final home league game against Bradford Bulls has been brought forward from Sunday, September 12, to Friday, September 10, kick-off 7.30pm.

The Alliance side lost 22-6 in the Challenge Cup quarter-final at Salford on Friday. Alan Cross scored Saints try and Mark McCully landed a conversion. Third-placed Saints travel to Fartown, Huddersfield tonight (Thursday).

Saints Academy team defeated Widnes 34-22 at Knowsley Road on Sunday. They were due to travel to Henley-on-Thames yesterday, Wednesday, to face London Broncos, and will entertain Castleford Tigers on Saturday, kick-off 2.30pm,

The Woolworth Junior Saints club will meet at Knowsley Road on Tuesday, September 7, at 6pm. Further details from Auntie Freda on St. Helens 602253.

Kiwi winger 28-year-old Sean Hoppe is set to land at Knowsley Road, and the club hope that both he and Australian forward Des Clark will be granted work permits to play this season. Hoppe is New Zealand's record try-scorer, has appeared in 33 Tests and also played for Canberra Raiders and North Sydney.

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