WIDNES Vikings boss Neil Kelly paid tribute to his squad ahead of Friday's daunting clash against in-form Saints at the Halton Stadium.

The Vikings went down 48-24 at Leeds last week but gave the Super League leaders a few scares along the way and they will be bolstered by the return of influential standoff Jules O'Neill and experienced prop Robert Relf.

The Vikings have never beaten the Challenge Cup winners in Super League but head coach Kelly says he has seen some promising signs since the Hull debacle last month.

"I think we can get a win in this game," he said. "There should be a big crowd and we are looking for a good performance.

"Saints are the biggest threat to Leeds but that doesn't make our job any easier.

"They know they have got to win to put themselves in the best position possible but we have had some good games against them, especially here, although they are only one of two sides who we haven't beaten in Super League yet."

The Vikings bid to break their Saints hoodoo will be strengthened by the return of O'Neill and Relf after minor injuries and Kelly was quick to praise the latter for his consistency.

"Robert Relf has done a great job for us since coming here," he said.

"He plays tough and picks up knocks but not only is that the first game he has missed, he gets up every morning, no doubt with bumps and bruises, and does his work in training."

Stephen Myler has also been singled out for praise after being thrown in at the deep end as an emergency scrumhalf while the club search fruitlessly for new blood in the backs.

Kelly said: "In difficult circumstances he is doing a fantastic job for us.

"Against Leeds I was pleased with the way he marshalled the side and it was nice to see his distribution was intelligent. He should take a lot of things from his performances," he added.

Kelly, who quit his international role as coach of Wales this week to spend more time with his family, has warned that despite the success of his rising Vikings stars, they are being forced to play too many games because of his limited first team squad.

"A lot of my under-21s in the first team are playing too much football because our squad is too small," he said.

"The fall-out isn't just inconsistency, it also deprives the U21s and U18s of some strong players which has a knock-on effect throughout the club."

"It is about developing the whole club not just the first team," he added.

Meanwhile recent signing Craig Weston, who impressed coming on as a replacement against Hull and Leeds, will be in contention for the televised clash against St Helens.