Bulls scrum half Paul Deacon could be set to line-up for Lancashire in next week's "Origin Match" after all.
Wigan-born Deacon was a shock omission from the 18-man red rose party last week but could now win a reprieve after St Helens half-back Sean Long suffered suspected knee ligament damage in his side's 44-26 win at Huddersfield Giants last night. The full extent of the damage won't be known until medical checks later today but early in-dications are that Long faces several weeks on the sidelines at best.
That is likely to open the door for Deacon to line-up alongside Warrington's Lee Briers at half-back for the battle with Yorkshire at Headingley next Tuesday.
The injury to Long is also a shattering blow to Saints ahead of Saturday night's showdown with the Bulls at Knowsley Road.
Ian Millward's men, who leap-frogged Leeds into fourth place following last night's win, are already without his regular half-back partner Tommy Martyn as he recovers from a hernia operation.
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