Cunningham set to defy doctor's orders for Saints.

Byline: IAN LAYBOURN

ST HELENS captain Keiron Cunningham is prepared to defy medical advice if necessary to lead his side against defending champions Leeds in the engage Super League Grand Final.

The veteran hooker played in Saints' 14-10 semi-final win over Wigan with pain-killing injections to combat a hairline fracture in his hand and was yesterday undergoing scans after experiencing further discomfort.

However, St Helens coach Mick Potter says Cunningham is a definite starter on Saturday - and with centre Matt Gidley (groin) and prop Tony Puletua (shoulder) also set to defy injury, he will take his place in a full-strength side.

Potter told a pre-Grand Final Press conference: "Keiron is having a scan today but he'll play regardless of what the scan says. It keeps disrupting him a little, so he's getting it seen to just to be diligent.

"He'll be offered medical advice - and whether he takes it up or not, that's Keiron. He's a pretty determined character."

Long-serving full-back Paul Wellens stood in for Cunningham at yesterday's Press conference but is happy to welcome back the club's iconic captain for the big match.

"Come Saturday, Keiron will be back on board and will lead the team out," Wellens confir med.

"I'll be glad to follow him out. He's a fantastic player and a fantastic servant for the club."

Leeds, too, will be at full strength - with the exception of long-term casualty Danny Buderus - coach Brian McClennan insisting full-back Brent Webb will play despite sustaining an unspecified injury in the Rhinos' 27-20 win over Catalans Dragons last Friday.

Webb, who missed Leeds' 2008 Grand Final win with a major back problem, was yesterday left out of New Zealand's Four Nations squad. But McClennan said, as far as he is aware, the decision was not made because of injury.

"He's not a major concern," said McClennan, who refused to divulge the nature of Webb's injury.

"We'll name the same 19, and the 17 will come out of that 19. He'll most definitely end up in the 17."

The Rhinos will welcome back second rower Ali Lauitiiti, who missed the semi-final through illness, with Simon Worrall likely to make way.

"He was bouncing around at training today," said McClennan.

"He had a flu virus last week and hadn't been eating. He looked quite good today."

Leeds will be aiming to make history by becoming the first team to win a hat-trick of Super League titles, and McClennan expects the final to provide a fitting climax to the domestic season.

"It's a magnificent venue and it will be a terrific match between the two top teams after 27 rounds and the play-offs," he said. "This is the third time we've opposed each other (in the final), so there is a real history. I'm sure everybody that comes along is going to enjoy the contest."

Leeds are the bookmakers' favourites, having finished top of the table courtesy of their 18-10 win over St Helens in the penultimate match of the regular season.

Saints won the title in 2006 but have lost to the Rhinos in each of the last two years, and Wellens admits last year's defeat still hurts.

"Obviously when you finish top, you come into the Grand Final more often than not carrying the favourites tag with you - but at the end of the day, it's down to performance," he said. "In the last couple of years we've not managed to perform well enough to win.

"Obviously that sticks in the mind of a few of the players and it's something we've had to think about nearly every day since. It's another game, and we'll have to take the emotions out of it to perform well."

Leeds captain Kevin Sinfield said: "We just need to prepare for a really tough game. Saints are a great side and they've beaten us twice this year already. We're well prepared - so roll on Saturday."

CAPTION(S):

St Helens' Paul Wellens and Kevin Sinfield of Leeds Rhinos hold the Super League Trophy at Old Trafford