LEON PRYCE is back and hungrier than ever for success but he knows he may have to bide his time to regain his regular starting spot in the St Helens team.

The vastly-experienced stand-off will make only his third appearance of the season in Sunday’s Carnegie Challenge Cup quarter-final against Hull KR after the worst injury run of his career.

The 29-year-old was restricted to just five minutes of action in almost 12 months by a bulging neck disk and then a serious groin tear but he got onto the field for the last 20 minutes of last Friday’s 40-18 win over Catalan Dragons.

“It was a long time coming so it was a relief to get out there,” he said.

“It was frustrating being out so long but it’s probably something I’ll learn from and hopefully it will make me a better person.

“I also appreciate playing rugby again. You take the game for granted, when you’re playing week in, week out like I’ve done since I was 16.

“It’s definitely given me the hunger to play as many games as I can now.”

In Pryce’s absence and his half-back partner Kyle Eastmond, coach Royce Simmons was forced to turn to young duo Lee Gaskell and Jonny Lomax and they have proved to be such a success that the ex-Bradford man admits he will not find it easy to force his way back into the side.

He said: “I’ll see what happens. I’ll always be confident in my own ability but I’m not going to disrespect them by thinking I can walk straight back into the team.

“You’ve got to earn your place and that’s what I’ll be doing. They’ve done themselves proud. They’ve been brilliant.”

FIXTURES: Tomorrow – Carnegie Challenge Cup Quarter-Final 4.30 Warrington v Wigan

Co-operative Championship 6.00 Toulouse v Widnes

Sunday – Carnegie Challenge Cup Quarter-Finals 3.30 Castleford v Huddersfield, 3.30 Hull v Leeds, 3.00 St Helens v Hull KR