Preview:
Salford v St Helens (Round 11)

Salford coach Karl Harrison believes his in-form players are helping create a bright new future for the club.

The City Reds have been the surprise package of the engage Super League season so far, winning seven games to sit fourth after 10 rounds.

Salford have long-term plans to leave their ageing headquarters at The Willows for a new stadium but the team is Harrison?s prime concern and he is happy with this year?s improvement.

The progress they have made this season has been underlined by Sky Sports? decision to switch their live coverage from Friday?s Leeds v Castleford clash to the Reds? home encounter with St Helens.

Harrison said: ?We've been trying to change the perception of this club for a while and you only get that change of perception of the team by performances on the field.

?And the performances this season have been to a really high standard, hence we're in fourth spot in the competition, and rightly so at the moment.

?The team is improving and with a little bit of luck against Leeds on Monday we could have been sat second in the competition.

?It's the same nucleus of the team that we've had for the last two seasons but we've added a little bit of quality which has allowed us to play slightly differently and we're scoring more points.?

Salford maintained their form with an impressive win at Warrington on Good Friday before being edged out in a tight battle with second-placed Leeds.

Harrison feels playing again on Friday is asking a lot of the players but is confident they will be relishing a meeting with the unbeaten league leaders.

He added: ?Obviously it's extremely difficult, but it's the same for everybody and let's not forget St Helens have been to France this week so they've had the traumatic experience of the travel out there, which is not very nice.

?But they've got a quality squad with quality personnel across the board and it's going to be a tough game.

?We're still a little bit bruised and battered from the Leeds and Warrington games but it's the same for everybody.?

Saints coach Daniel Anderson has been impressed by the Reds this term and admits they will be a difficult obstacle to overcome as his team recover from Easter fixtures against Wigan and Catalans Dragons.

Anderson said: ?Their position in the table reflects the way they have been playing.

?They have quite a number of fine players. You can?t win as many games as we have or they have by just relying on individuals.

?They are all doing the job and they have got a good team ethic. They have recruited very well and have been tremendous.?

Saints are boosted by the return of Paul Sculthorpe, Paul Anderson, Ade Gardner and Jason Hooper, who all missed the trip to Perpignan.

?I would like to think we are going to be a bit better,? said Anderson. ?I think it is a hard task trying to cram in so many games. I don?t think the quality of the second games is as good as the first games.

?I don?t think it is fair on the players, they can?t keep up that intensity.

?These four will give us fresh minds and fresh bodies and hopefully give us a lift.?

Salford City Reds v St Helens, The Willows, Friday April 21 2006

Salford 18-man squad: Fitzpatrick, Hodgson, Moule, Dunemann, Robinson, Coley, Alker, Finnigan, Charles, Highton, Langi, Wilshere, Haggerty, Littler, Myler, Baldwin, Brocklehurst, Clayton.

St Helens 18-man squad: Wellens, Gardner, Lyon, Talau, Pryce, Long, Fozzard, Cunningham, Cayless, Gilmour, Wilkin, Sculthorpe, Roby, Hooper, P. Anderson, V. Anderson, Graham, Hardman.

Referee: R Silverwood