The Maitland Saints welcome star trio Wade Bear, Jim Taranto and Chris Pedler back to face Cardiff Hawks at Max McMahon Oval on Saturday.
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![KEY FORWARD: Wade Beard returns to the Saints line-up on Saturday. KEY FORWARD: Wade Beard returns to the Saints line-up on Saturday.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/33FVAk7YxZ786YcQSXi4WkS/940a3457-9ab4-4695-9650-b7d8134a2619.jpg/r0_120_1459_1035_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Beard, the Saints leading goal kicker, and 2015 joint best and fairest winner Taranto and Pedler were missing with several other regular senior players from last week’s 82-point loss to Singleton.
Saints coach David Ross said there wasn’t a great deal he could take from the match with 10 players missing and the club unable to use the interchange bench after half-time because of injuries.
“It was a hard day. We’ll take what lessons we can from it,” he said.
“When you lose (key forward) Patty McMahon to injury five minutes into the game and then can’t use the bench from half-time you are going to struggle,” he said.
The Saints division two and women’s teams had strong wins and will be in action against Cardiff on Saturday. Games start from 10.30am.