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Last Update: 2 June, 2008 9:38 AM

02 July 2009
RUGBY LEAGUE - CHALK ON BOARD TO FACE WARRINGTON

Wales Sport
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FORMER Canberra Raiders utility player Marshall Chalk could return to the Celtic Crusaders side this Saturday when they take on Warrington Wolves at the Brewery Field in Bridgend (kick-off 6pm).

If he is declared fit, it will be a welcome break for the Welsh side who have been without a recognised experienced full-back for a lot of the season.

With Tony Duggan not returning until September with his ankle injury, the Crusaders are happy that Chalk has made such a quick recovery from a broken jaw that he obtained during the Castleford Tigers home game on April 26th.

Chalk has scored three tries in nine appearances so far for the Crusaders and has been missed in his long-term absence.

“It’s been frustrating couple of months on the sidelines,” Chalk said. “To work so hard then have one injury that has put me out for long time is annoying but this is a chance to refresh, get back in the team and focus on helping to get more wins for club.

“The week or so has been good. I’ve been doing full on training back with the squad and getting a feel for skills and speed playing wise. I’m getting confidence back in myself and I think I have a chance to play this week. If not this week against Warrington, I’m sure it will be next week against Salford but I really want to get back out there.”

Crusaders coach John Dixon said: “We’re pleased at the way that Marshall has healed after such a bad injury, but like Jace Van Dijk last year, he has worked hard on his fitness throughout his rehabilitation period and we hope to have him back in the side as soon as possible.

Chalk has been named in the 19-man squad to face the Wolves on Saturday but Dixon says that there is no guarantee that he will play.

“Marshall still has to go through some fitness tests,” he said. “We won’t know until Saturday whether he’ll make this week’s team. We’ll have to make a balanced decision on him as we don’t want to bring him back until he’s thoroughly ready.

“We gave Super League debuts to Geraint Davies and Lloyd White last week and they’re going to be a whole lot better for playing at that level. We’ve had no luck at all this year in the full-back and half-backs positions.

"Jace Van Dijk has been injured, Matty Smith has had two serious injuries, we’ve lost Tony Duggan so Damien Quinn has had to go to full-back after we previously dabbled with Peter Lupton and Marshall Chalk there.

"When you talk about the stability required at full and half-backs this season, we’ve really struggled.”

On the flip side, the Crusaders have been disappointed to find out that Darren Mapp is definitely out for the season after having surgery on his torn pectoral muscle.

Mapp, who has been outstanding over the past three seasons for the Crusaders, is highly rated by players and fans alike and his injury is a huge blow to the club as they enter the final third of their season.

“We’re very disappointed to lose Darren at this stage of the season,” Dixon said. “Darren was Players’ Player of the Year in both 2007 and 2008 and this alone shows how much he’ll be missed.”

After being named in the 19 last week but not playing, Matty Smith is omitted from this week’s squad as he is still not completely over an elbow injury.

There are also some doubts over Peter Lupton and Jason Chan although both are named in the Dixon’s initial squad.

“Both have been playing really well in the last month,” Dixon said. “So it will be a major problem for us if either or neither of them are able to play. They’ll train again tomorrow and Saturday morning and we’ll see how they go.

“Peter Lupton has showed a lot of courage over the last month and has played with an injury so we hope he will be fit to go. Jason Chan has an ankle problem and Saturday may be one or two days to soon. We’ll have to find out. They desperately want to play though.”

However Chris Beasley and Luke Dyer could return after missing last week’s trip to St Helens through injuries.

Warrington Wolves have done a bit of globetrotting recently after travelling to Barcelona to face Catalans Dragons two weeks ago. Now they are heading to Wales this coming weekend and Wolves boss Tony Smith sees these games as a nice experience for the players and everyone is enjoying it.

“Most have been to Wales in some shape or form but we’ve not been to the Brewery Field as a team so we look forward to that,” Smith said. “It will be a tough one. They gave us a tough run on our own turf so going into their back yard will be even more tough.”

Warrington have three players out through injury including former Wales captain Lee Briers. Mickey Higham and Paul Rauhihi also miss the trip to Bridgend.

Rauhihi, a New Zealand international prop was a surprise absentee against Hull FC last week. He has an injury that has not been specified by Warrington but is understood to be a niggle rather then anything serious.

Back rower Lee Mitchell comes into the 19 in his place and Irish international Brian Carney, 18th man against Hull, is in the running again.

Celtic Crusaders (from): Chris Beasley, Anthony Blackwood, Mark Bryant, Neil Budworth, Marshall Chalk, Jason Chan, Mark Dalle Cort, Luke Dyer, Ben Flower, Jordan James, Mark Lennon, Peter Lupton, Ryan O’Hara, Adam Peek, Damien Quinn, Steve Tyrer, Jace Van Dijk, Lloyd White, Lincoln Withers

Warrington (from): Louis Anderson, Vinnie Anderson, Chris Bridge, Brian Carney, Garreth Carvell, Jon Clarke, Michael Cooper, Simon Grix, Ben Harrison, Chris Hicks, Paul Johnson, Matt King, Richie Mathers, Lee Mitchell, Michael Monaghan, Adrian Morley, Chris Riley, Ben Westwood, Paul Wood

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