WORLD championship hopefuls Saints are incensed by Super League pleas to Wigan and Warrington fans to support Brisbane Broncos in Friday's showdown at Bolton's Reebok Stadium (8pm).

Arguably a ploy to boost a feared low gate in a 28,000-capacity ground, the remarkable request, aired on Ceefax could work in Saints' favour, because it triggered angry reaction from skipper Chris Joynt as his squad brace themselve to tackle the team generally regarded as the world's best club side.

"Such comments will spur us even further!"declared the back-to-back Grand Final winners' leader, while Saints' coach Ian Millward reported an air of quiet confidence in a team totally focused on becoming kings of international club rugby.

And although Millward has the utmost respect for his opposite number Wayne Bennett, he believes the revamped Australian NRL champions could be affected by the loss of several of their Grand Final team.

These include Kevin Walters (now with Warrington), Kevin Campion (New Zealand),Tonie Carroll (Leeds), St Helens-born Harvey Howard (Wigan) and the injured Ben Ikin, while the streetwise Saints' supremo also hopes for Arctic temperatures in order to catch Broncos cold.

International replacement rules will apply, with each side having four substitutes and a maximum of 12 inter-changes.

Surprisingly, perhaps, there are no places in the Saints' 17 for new signings Wayne McDonald and Mick Higham, along with Steve Hall but ex-Newcastle Knights David Fairleigh and Peter Shiels will face their fellow Aussies.

Saints' team is: Wellens; Hoppe, Iro, Newlove, Sullivan; Martyn, Long; Fairleigh, Cunningham, Nickle, Joynt, Shiels, Sculthorpe. Substitutes: Stankevitch, Matautia, Jonkers, Stewart.

Brisbane Broncos: Lockyer; Tuqiri, De Vere, Kelly, Sailor; Berrigan, Prince; Webcke, Priddis, Civoniceva, Tallis, Carlaw, Lee. Substitutes: Meyers, Harrison, S. Walker, C. Walker.

Referee: Stuart Cummings.