ST HELENS hope to expedite Ben Barba’s rugby league return after the English Super League club confirmed it would appeal his 12-game cocaine ban.

The former NRL star arrived at the club last week to start a two-and-a-half year deal signed in May following his release by French rugby union club Toulon.

The former Cronulla fullback copped the illicit drug ban after testing positive following the Sharks’ grand final victory last season, prompting him to head overseas.

St Helens sit sixth on the ladder with five regular-season matches remaining.

Live stream the 2017 NRL Telstra Premiership on FOX SPORTS. Get your free 2-week FOXTEL NOW trial and start watching in minutes. SIGN UP NOW!

If Barba serves the full suspension, he’ll miss those games - given he’s already sat out four games - as well as the first three fixtures of the Super 8s if the Saints make the finals.

With the possibility Barba won’t get on the field this season, St Helens chairman Eamonn McManus confirmed the club will appeal.

Ben Barba thanks the fans after the 2016 grand final. Source: News Corp Australia

The NRL and England’s governing body Rugby Football League (RFL) have reciprocal acknowledgement of bans, but St Helens believe there are grounds to overturn it.

“We are appealing against the decision of the RFL to transfer the twelve-game ban to Super League,” McManus told English newspaper League Express.

Ben Ikin, Nathan Ryan and Ben Glover are joined by Wests Tigers GM of football Kelly Egan to discuss their wave of new recruits and moving on from the big three.

You can also subscribe via iTunes or for Android users, listen on the iPP Podcast Player app.

“The NRL itself stated that he would serve twelve matches when he returns to the NRL. That was formally stated by them.”

“Most importantly, if that offence had been committed in this country, then there would have been no ban.

Ben Barba celebrate's the win with coach Shane Flanagan. Source: News Corp Australia

“For out-of-season illicit non-performance-enhancing drugs, there is no ban.”

Barba, who won the Dally M award in 2012 as the NRL’s best player, is set to miss the rest of sixth-placed St Helens’ season.

“I’ve still got to work hard at the moment. I’ve got a bit of a suspension that’s hanging around at the moment that I’m not sure what’s going on,” Barba told the club’s website.