DEAD as the proverbial dodo! That was Shaun McCrae's assessment of Scott Gibbs' chances of playing for Saints in Saturday's Cup Final against Bradford Bulls at Wembley.

WHITTLE: Reports that Saints were in agreement with Scott's request to turn out have met with a mixed response from the fans. What is your view?

McRAE: Apparently the story emanated from unknown source - probably you fellows! - but Swansea have refused Scott permission to play so the matter is at an end. If Gibbs had been given the go-ahead he would have been considered for selection in the normal way along with the other squad members. I can tell you with absolute certainty that Scott will not play for Saints at Wembley and that is final!

WHITTLE: Having got that off your chest what are the chances of Alan Hunte recovering in time to face Bradford Bulls?

McRAE: The decision will be made when Saints arrive in London this afternoon (Thursday). Alan has been receiving special daily treatment in an hyperbaric pressure chamber which, I am told, is an oxygenisation therapy which helps to stimulate dormant tissue. Our physiotherapist Janette Smith has also played a vital part in Hunte's rehabilitation programme, so it's a case of fingers crossed for our in-form centre, who was restricted to a substitute role in last year's Wembley clash with Bradford

WHITTLE: On the assumption that Alan Hunte is ruled out who are the front-runners to replace him?

McRAE: I would have thought that was pretty obvious, ie Vila Matautia or Andy Haigh.

WHITTLE: Do I understand that you have no dark horses up your sleeve, such as Andy Northey or Paul Anderson?

McRAE: I have no comment whatsoever on that, but what I can say is that Saints' 17-man squad will be announced when we reach our hideaway hotel in the South of England later today (Thursday). It will be chosen from a full complement of 23 players with Joey Hayes sadly having to miss Wembley for the second year in succession. However, things are beginning to look better for Joey, because he should be back in the first-team frame within the next month.

WHITTLE: Derek McVey had to forego Wembley in 1996 because he was ineligible, and has been sidelined with an ankle since the game at Wigan on Good Friday. Are you going to risk him, because Saints have lacked his distribution skills in particular? McRAE: Derek has trained twice with the squad this week and, as with Alan Hunte, will undergo a make-or-break fitness test today. My only other comment on the McVey situation is that some media sources have reported me as saying that if Derek did not play at Anfield he would not be considered for Wembley. That is not true.

WHITTLE: What, in a nutshell, is the programme in preparation for the Challenge Cup Final?

McRAE: The team, coaching staff and certain officials will leave Knowsley Road this morning at 10am, and will stay at an hotel within a short ride of Wembley. The rest of the day will be free-and-easy, as it usually is within 48 hours of a match. Friday sees Saints making the time-honoured visit to get the feel of Wembley Stadium, and this will be followed by a light training session on the playing fields of Eton where, legend has it, the battles of England used to be won! Early to bed on Friday night, and then up bright-as-a-button on Saturday for what we hope will be a day to remember both for the players, supporters and everyone who has worked so hard to make this Wembley repeat visit a reality. See you all on Sunday at Knowsley Road with the silverware back on the sideboard!

WHITTLE: Moving away from Silk Cut Cup glory what were your impressions of Saints' first appearance at Anfield? McRAE: Overall I believe it was a very worthwhile exercise and one that should be repeated next season, because several of the team make regular visits to the Reds play and thoroughly enjoyed treading the Anfield turft and sampling the luxury of the stadium's dressing rooms and other facilities. And when did Saints last have a gate of more than 12,000 for the visit of Castleford, I might ask? I know the novelty element was there but the turn-out was still highly satisfactory for a game in which it took Saints more than 20 minutes to hit form against bottom-of-the-table Castleford. But the Tigers nonetheless impressed me and, under new coach Stuart Raper, I am sure they will soon start to put some good wins together.

WHITTLE: With Andy Goodway and John Monie having joined the coaching casualty list, are you looking over your shoulder these days?

McRAE: It certainly is the case that a coach stands or falls by what happens on the field more than ever in Super League, with a quick count of heads revealing that only Dean Bell, Tony Currie and yours truly survive from the original squad. For myself all I can add is that I try to do the job to the best of my ability by preparing finely-tuned athletes to strive for both physical and mental excellence.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.