BOOSTED by their World Club Challenge reprieve at Penrith, Australia, on Monday, Saints now face the daunting challenge of three games in seven days.

For they entertain Oldham Bears on Sunday, kick-off 6pm, followed by the visit of Paris St. Germain in a World Club qualifier on Wednesday (7.30pm), and travel to Castleford Tigers the following Sunday, August 17 (3.30pm).

Anxious to improve their Super League top-four chances against Oldham, Saints will check on the progress of Apollo Perelini's elbow surgery which has sidelined him for several weeks, and there are also doubts about the fitness of Steve Prescott and Vila Matautia.

The Bears are involved in a battle against relegation at the bottom of the Super League, and their hopes suffered another blow when they lost 36-28 at London Broncos on Tuesday, but they were one of few English clubs to register a win in the World Club Championship via a 20-16 success over North Queensland Cowboys

Oldham, who are now coached by former Kangaroo Bob Lindner, have also been dealt another set-back in that Australian prop Brett Goldspink is likely to miss the rest of the season due to a knee injury, and their line-up at Knowsley Road will be chosen from:

Atcheson; Leulia, Hill, Cowan, Jones; Maloney, Goodwin, Crompton; Gildart, Clarke, Faimalo, Davidson, Stephenson, Topping, Russell, Lord, Munro, Referee on Sunday is Stephen Presley, and the Academy team will face Featherstone Rovers of both in a curtain-raiser kick-off 4pm Reverting to World Club Challenge matters the winners of the Saints versus Paris clash will travel to Brisbane Broncos on the week-end of October 4. Wednesday's game is on an all-to-pay basis and will be televised by the Sky channel.

The Alliance team were defeated 36-18 by Castleford Tigers at Knowsley Road. Their tries were scored by Pimblett, Bennett and Capewell, who also kicked three goals. Next week's match at Leeds has been switched from Wednesday to Friday.

Saints' Open Night for supporters will be held at Knowsley Road today, Thursday, from 6.30pm. A varied programme has been planned including a chance to meet the team on their return from Australia; a tour of the ground, plus an opportunity to take part in training sessions.

Saints' star of the 1950s Eddie Cheetham is on the look-out for official Rugby League rule books from earlier seasons. Anyone who can help should ring St. Helens 758152.

Alan Hunte and Anthony Sullivan are Saints' joint leading try-scorers on 22, with Hunte needing one more for a career total of 200. Bobbie Goulding requires two goals for a tally of 500 with Saints.

Transfer-listed utility player Kevin O'Loughlin is on loan at Halifax, and scored a try in the defeat by Brisbane Broncos at Thrum Hall on Monday. Answer to correspondent Ronnie Riley, of Derbyshire Hill: Derek Noonan gained Wembley winners medals for Warrington against Featherstone in 1974 and for Saints versus Widnes in 1976. His loser's medals were for Warrington against Widnes in 1975 and Saints versus Leeds in 1978.

Harry Wright, Sutton Manor: The late Don Vines was the only Welshman in the Saints' team that defeated Wigan 12-6 in the 1961 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley.

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