Wellens enjoyed an outstanding 2006 season with Saints

The 26-year-old was stretchered off after being injured while scoring a try in Saturday's 40-10 win over Leigh.

"He's had an X-ray and has been cleared of any fracture, which is good news," said Saints coach Daniel Anderson.

"He's currently undertaking an MRI scan to determine what ligament or soft tissue damage has occurred."

Saints begin their Super League campaign away to Huddersfield on Sunday and young full-back Ian Hardman is set to deputise for Wellens.

Anderson added: "I'd name Paul in the team but the doctors are likely to rule him out later in the week."

Saints are also without skipper Paul Sculthorpe, who is recovering from major knee surgery while loose forward Jason Hooper is a doubt after he sustained a shoulder injury on the club's training camp in Dubai.

Willie Talau, who was sent off in the first half of the game for punching Leigh's Anthony Stewart faces a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday and could miss the game through suspension.

If he is banned, Lee Gilmour is likely to switch from second row to centre.

Against Leigh, St Helens got off to a slow start but soon turned on the style in front of a crowd of more than 5,000 people at Knowsley Road with Gilmour opening the scoring after 12 minutes

Centre Matt Gidley - signed as a replacement for Jamie Lyon - flicked out a trademark pass to send Ade Gardner over in the corner five minutes later.

Gilmour benefited from Leon Pryce's excellent pass and the stand-off then set up Talau for Saints' fourth try.

Talau's sending-off on 26 minutes did not stem the flow, with Jon Wilkin and Mike Bennett both crossing before half-time.

Wellens added the next try but was injured in the act of scoring and taken off on a stretcher.

Substitute James Roby then raced 40m for Saints eighth and final try.