Bulls chairman Chris Caisley will lead the side out at Twickenham on Saturday on the insistence of the rest of the Odsal board.

Caisley has handed over the role on two previous occasions, at Wembley in 1996 to coach Brian Noble, and last season to fellow director Jack Bates.

''There were a few other people I had in mind but the board were adamant I should do it again like I did in 1997 and I am looking forward to it tremendously,'' said Caisley

Caisley has confirmed the club will be wearing their Skylark-sponsored shirts on the big day despite an on-going contractual dispute with the company: ''It's not a happy situation and we have still not received the money we are due. But we have decided we should fulfil our obligations as we always have. In the meantime legal proceedings are underway to resolve the matter,'' said Caisley.

Meanwhile Saints' Great Britain centre Paul Newlove has been cleared to play in the final. Newlove, 29, was found guilty of a careless high tackle in last Friday's 56-22 Super League defeat at Warrington but the disciplinary committee decided to take no further action.

Newlove, accompanied at the hearing at Rugby League headquarters in Leeds by former St Helens chairman Tom Ellard, was sent off in the first half of the Warrington match after catching Wolves Toa Kohe-Love with a reflex high tackle.

A League spokesman said: ''The committee came to the conclusion that the tackle was careless rather than malicious and noted the player's apology which was made immediately. The player also apologised to the committee.''

The news will be a welcome relief to the Super League champions, who will now be at full-strength for the final. Newlove has amassed 112 tries in 148 appearances since his record transfer from Odsal in 1995.