Bradford Bulls chairman Chris Caisley will be amazed if St Helens field as weakened a side tomorrow night as Ian Millward is making out.

The Saints coach said earlier in the week that he had only ten fully-fit senior players for the top-of-the-table Tetley's Super League clash at Valley Parade.

But Caisley said: "I am taking Ian Millward's comments with a large pinch of salt, and I will be surprised if Kieron Cunningham and Chris Joynt don't play."

Millward is blaming the congested Super League fixture list for his side's injury problems, but Caisley countered: "It is just typical of him, but his statements are absolute rubbish.

"They have played one more game than normal - in midweek at Easter - and that is all they have had to play.

"And even then they haven't played week in and week out, and we are only six weeks into the season."

Millward has attacked the six extra games that Super League clubs have to play on top of the usual diet of 11 home and 11 away fixtures.

But this has also angered Caisley, who said: "If clubs want to play only 22 games a season, then let them - but would coaches and players be prepared to take a 20 per cent cut in wages?

"What professional club, be it soccer or rugby, is only going to open its gates 11 times a season for their supporters?

"Fans want to see their teams play, and not just 11 times a season at home either.

"The governing bodies want us to play all these international games on top - including a silly one-off international in Australia which breaks up the middle of our season - and two State of Origin games.

"But you wouldn't find the Australians coming over here in the middle of their season to play a one-off Test - their NRL season is far too important for that.

"And I am sure fans would rather see their club teams play, rather than watch meaningless internationals."