At the rate he is going, Keiron Cunningham, the St Helens captain, will be playing when a planned bronze statue to commemorate his feats is erected in the town. The 31-year-old hooker committed himself yesterday to a further year at the club, two days before a potential second engage Super League and Challenge Cup double in three seasons.

Cunningham, who made the first of 436 club appearances at 16, said: “I spoke to the chairman [Eamonn McManus] and Tony Colquitt [the chief executive] earlier in the year about going around again and I said I would consider it if I felt I was in good enough condition towards the end of the season.

“I didn't want to get to a point where I was just dragging myself around a field. But my form has been good this year and I feel I can carry on for another season. I am excited about the challenges that a new coach in Mick Potter and new players will bring to the club.”

McManus said: “We're all delighted that Keiron will be staying. He has been Super League's outstanding player for more than a decade.”

Jason Cayless is in line to make his comeback after a month out with a knee injury. The former New Zealand prop is included in Daniel Anderson's initial 19-man squad for the Grand Final at Old Trafford tomorrow. Nick Fozzard and Kyle Eastmond are likely to drop out. Leeds named an unchanged squad, with Luke Burgess and Ryan Hall added to the team who beat Wigan Warriors in the final eliminator last Friday.

St Helens (from): P Wellens, A Gardner, M Gidley, W Talau, F Meli, L Pryce, S Long, N Fozzard, K Cunningham (captain), J Cayless, L Gilmour, J Wilkin, J Roby, C Flannery, J Graham, B Hargreaves, P Clough, M Fa’asavalu, K Eastmond.

Leeds Rhinos (from): B Webb, S Donald, K Senior, L Smith, D McGuire, R Burrow, K Leuluai, M Diskin, J Peacock, J Jones-Buchanan, G Ellis, K Sinfield (captain), A Lauitiiti, R Bailey, N Scruton, I Kirke, C Ablett, R Hall, L Burgess.