Tony Smith expects St Helens to be wary of "dangerous" Lachlan Coote

Whenever a player returns to his old stomping ground with his new club for the first time, eyebrows are raised about how the player will fare against their former employers.

This weekend, the player in question is Lachlan Coote, as the fullback returns to the Totally Wicked Stadium after three excellent years in Merseyside.

Coote will be in the public eye on Sunday as he travels back over to St Helens to take on his former side, but Hull KR head coach Tony Smith expects Coote to receive a positive reception by the Saints fans after years of success and hard work for their club.

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"I'd like to think he'd get a healthy reception," said Smith. "He's that type of clean, competitive player who gave his all for Saints, as he does for us now. He's professional, and his effort levels are significant for us."

Coote, who won four trophies in three years with the current champions, is expected to be Rovers' key to unlocking the Saints' door on Sunday, with Smith confident he will be able to handle the pressure and cause his old teammates plenty of issues at the weekend.

"He was great for them but they will also be wary of what he could do to them. The fans and players know his capabilities, and he will be ready if he attracts some extra attention. Lachlan and all of us are ready for the challenge ahead."

The last time the two sides met, Saints put Rovers to the sword. Three tries from Tommy Makinson, two apiece from Sione Mata'utia and Lewis Dodd, and one from Alex Walmsley saw the champions leave Sewell Group Craven Park with a 42-8 victory, a game in which Coote was pulled from the field early with a hamstring niggle.

Coote will be hoping to