James Roby will miss St Helens' trip to Salford

St Helens coach Keiron Cunningham is adamant his team will not take Salford lightly in Thursday's Super League clash at the AJ Bell Stadium, live on Sky Sports 2 HD from 7.30pm.

Saints opened their campaign with an impressive 30-16 win over Huddersfield, while the Red Devils shipped eight tries as Hull FC demolished them 42-20.

However, Cunningham says it would be dangerous to underestimate Salford and believes they have the potential to be a real Super League force.

Mark Flanagan, Ian Watson and Josh Jones look ahead to Salford's first home fixture of the season against St Helens Mark Flanagan, Ian Watson and Josh Jones look ahead to Salford's first home fixture of the season against St Helens

"I don't think any of the history of past results have any bearing on any of the games," Cunningham told Sky Sports.

"If we drop our guard on Thursday even slightly, then we are in for a tough night.

"Salford are a really resilient side and they have two great half-backs who kick the ball well. They also have a really fit and mobile middle so it is going to be a tough night for us.

"Tim Sheens has done a great job there but I think one of the biggest assets is bringing Greg Brown in as their conditioning coach. He is phenomenal and really changed the structures there.

Jordan Turner notched his 100th career try as St Helens romped to a 30-16 victory over Huddersfield Jordan Turner notched his 100th career try as St Helens romped to a 30-16 victory over Huddersfield

"You can see the body shapes of the team have changed - and they are fit, strong, athletes now. That is after just one pre-season and if Salford stick with him and his theories then going forward they are going to be a real force."

St Helens will be without James Roby who is nursing some rib ligament damage but Cunningham says they have plenty of cover for that crucial hooker role and has called up Morgan Knowles from the reserves.

We've been spending some time with the new man in charge at Salford to find out what goes into being a Super League head coach We've been spending some time with the new man in charge at Salford to find out what goes into being a Super League head coach

Salford: Niall Evalds, Justin Carney, Josh Griffin, Robert Lui, Michael Dobson, Craig Kopczak, Tommy Lee, George Griffin, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Mark Flanagan, Gareth O'Brien, Adam Walne, Olsi Krasniqi, Phil Joseph, Greg Johnson, Logan Tomkins, Ryan Lannon, Matt Sarsfield, Josh Jones.

St Helens: Tommy Makinson, Jordan Turner, Mark Percival, Adam Swift, Luke Walsh, Alex Walmsley,Kyle Amor, Atelea Vea, Jon Wilkin, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Lama Tasi, Greg Richards, Andre Savelio, Luke Thompson, Theo Fages, Joe Greenwood, Jack Owens, Morgan Knowles, Calvin Wellington.

Keiron Cunningham and Kyle Amor look ahead to St Helens' clash with Salford Keiron Cunningham and Kyle Amor look ahead to St Helens' clash with Salford

Watch Salford v St Helens live on Sky Sports 2 HD on Thursday from 7.30pm. Catch the match for £6.99 on NOW TV. No contract.