IAN Millward has paid French Super League wannabes Union Treiziste Catalane a compliment by naming his strongest possible squad for Saints' fourth round Challenge Cup tie on Saturday night.

Man of Steel Paul Sculthorpe is still nursing a leg injury and will not play, joining long term casualties Paul Wellens and Keiron Cunningham on the sidelines.

But apart from wanting to ensure progress into the next round, the Saints boss also wants to give his players a final run out before the following week's World Club Challenge clash with Sydney Roosters.

With Sculthorpe likely to return the following week, Millward will want to assess his options at number six and loose forward ahead of the Roosters clash.

Millward said: "This is really our first hit out and I am still slotting things into place. I am flexible for my line up the following week against Roosters.

"This is going to be very tough playing against a team who are coming into Super League in 2005.

"This is a big night for the French, hosting the Super League Champions.

"It will be a good game for us to get our momentum going for the following week, but make no mistake we want to win this cup tie because we desperately want to get to Cardiff.."

Saints will be going into the game with little knowledge of their French opponents - who are a much changed side from the one that was crushed by Wigan at the same stage of the competition last year.

"I have asked Gateshead for a tape of the last round, but it has still not arrived, so I feel a bit like a commander going into war not sure where the opposition is. It is a bit scary and something foreign to us.

"At the moment I reckon UTC are probably on a par with a lower Super League club. That gives you an indication that it is not going to be a walk in the park. They are a hidden quantity," Millward said.

Significantly John Stankevitch moves up to prop, which may go some way to answer fans' queries about who is stepping into the boots of departed front rowers Sonny Nickle and Peter Shiels.

"We are going play John more in the front row this year - we have worked him very hard in the gymnasium this winter. I am pleased with his progress both mentally and physically. That has been a big plus for us, because we replaced two front rowers with two utility players in the off-season. Some guys are having to move up - John is excited by it.

"We quality if not quantity in our squad. There are very few specialists and versatility is the watch word," Millward said.

Saints: Stewart; Albert, Gleeson, Newlove, Gardner; Martyn, Long; Britt, Higham, Stankevitch, Joynt, Smith, Jonkers. Subs from: Kirkpatrick, Edmondson, Ward, Bennett, Hooper.