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Giant efforts

Liam Chronnell
3/ 6/2004

INJURY-HIT Salford are facing a race against the clock to get several key players fit ahead of Sunday's crucial match with Huddersfield Giants.

Reds coach Karl Harrison was without six of his first-team regulars in the 34-6 defeat at Leeds, including all three of his recognised half-backs.

Gavin Clinch, Cliff Beverley and Karl Fitzpatrick all missed Friday's clash through injury but the trio look set to return for the start of a vital six-week period in the Reds' season.

During that time, Salford have four home games out of the next five, including a four-pointer with Castleford.

"The next six weeks will have a big bearing on the outcome of the season," admitted Harrison.

The Reds coach will certainly want to have his preferred half-back pairing back in place. Kiwi Beverley went over on his ankle in training last week, while scrum-half Clinch has been struggling with a shoulder injury but hopes to be fit for Sunday.

He added: "Clinch has been struggling with his shoulder for a while. If he had played at Leeds he would have missed the next month with injury." Harrison also hopes to have Fitzpatrick back, after he severed tissue in his thumb opening a tin of fruit, along with Stuart Littler (hamstring) and Mark Shipway (shoulder).

But prop Gareth Haggerty is struggling though with a knee injury and will undergo a late fitness test before a final decision is made.

Meanwhile, academy players Tim Hartley and Mark Stevens have been added to the first-team squad on a permanent basis.

The youngsters have impressed in the u18s and u21s, and, in Hartley's case, the full side, and will now train with the senior team full-time.

Goal-kicking centre Hartley, 18, came off the bench against at Headingley for his first game in Super League, while Stevens, who can play either full-back or on the wing, grabbed a couple of tries in the senior academy's 26-0 win at Keighley last week.

"It's part of an on-going process to bring young players through at this club," said Harrison.

• REDS stars Stuart Littler and Simon Baldwin will attend the next Forever Reds meeting at the Willows on Monday at 7.30pm.