Super League giants St Helens and Zurich Premiership high-flyers Sale will face each other in a unique cross-code contest at Knowsley Road this month.

The teams will play one half under rugby league rules and another under union laws.

And the winner will be decided by the aggregate score after the full 80 minutes.

Initial plans to stage the game were hampered by a lack of a suitable date.

It will show what players are adaptable to both codes and maybe we can look at a few rugby union players Ian Millward St Helens coach

But Sale's elimination from the Powergen Cup means the match can now be played on 27 January.

The North West sides' contest will revive memories of the last meeting of its kind in 1996.

Then, Wigan thrashed Bath 82-6 at league but were beaten 44-19 in the return match under union rules.

Both clubs have promised to field their strongest possible sides and St Helens have drafted in Gary French, a former hooker with Bath and London Welsh, to assist coach Ian Millward.

"It should be a great challenge and all my players are very, very keen on it," Millward said.

"We're going to take it very seriously.

"It will show what players are adaptable to both codes and maybe we can look at a few rugby union players.

"It's going to be very exciting."

Sale and England winger Jason Robinson played in the inaugural challenge for Wigan.

And he is looking forward to lining up alongside former Saint Apollo Perelini in the latest hybrid experiment.

"Knowsley Road was a happy hunting ground for me in my Wigan days and it will be great to go back there for this unique game," he said.