St Helens head coach Royce Simmons has urged his players to play ‘stingy’ rugby as they prepare for the first competitive game at their new Langtree Park home against Salford on Friday (St Helens 1/20 draw 33/1 Salford  8/1 match prices).

A carnival atmosphere is expected at the state-of-the-art stadium as Saints open their home Super League campaign hoping to continue the momentum gained from their 34-24 win over London Broncos at the Stoop last weekend.

As entertaining as that win was, Simmons knows that a solid defence will be the key to long-term success this season, especially at home, as they aim to go one better than their 32-16 Grand Final defeat to Leeds Rhinos last October (Saints 3/1 Grand Final outright).

“We are fully aware other teams will be coming here and will enjoy the facilities and will up their game,” the 51-year-old Saints’ official website.

“The crowd will help us if we turn up ready to play but they aren’t going to jump into the field and help us score a try or make a saving tackle.

“We need to play pretty stingy football. That means scoring a few points and being tight in defence and not letting them have much possession. If it’s 32-28 every week and some weeks you don’t win then it isn’t a fortress. We need strong wins. When we do that, we can develop that fortress.

“Salford will be a tough match. I don’t think you can take much from the performance in the snow against Castleford but they looked very good in their friendly against Wigan. With a new coach and assistant they have new patterns of how they play and that makes them dangerous.”

Saints boast a strong recent record against Salford, winning their last three games against them and running in 26 tries in the process.

However, they will be without the influential Jamie Foster who has a thigh injury. Ade Gardner looks set to deputise while Tony Puletua is expected to return after shoulder and elbow injuries.

Salford hooker Wayne Godwin and centre Sean Gleeson are both out, with Stuart Howarth and Shannon McPherson poised to step-in for Phil Veivers’ men.