Warrington Wolves injury update as Burgess discusses potential returns
SAM Burgess was keen to play his cards close to his chest with regards to the health of his Warrington Wolves squad ahead of Sunday's Challenge Cup semi-final.
And while he is guaranteed to get at least one of his key men back and the door is seemingly left ajar for another, he admits he expects to face Leigh Leopards with a largely similar pool of players.
Skipper George Williams (ankle) and hooker Danny Walker (knee) are long-term absentees, with Burgess confirming the latter had undergone surgery to start his recovery process earlier this week.
Scrum-half Marc Sneyd (fractured eye socket) and centre Toby King (groin) are closer to returning, with Burgess hinting that King had the best chance – albeit a slim one – of lining up at the Totally Wicked Stadium.
Winger Matty Ashton will return to the side having sat out the Magic Weekend loss to Wigan Warriors under concussion protocol but aside from him, Burgess is not optimistic of any further fitness boosts.
When asked if any players other than Ashton were expected to return to contention, the Wire boss replied: 'No, but the players were have are healthy.
'I don't want to focus too much on who's injured – I'll focus on who's going to play, we'll get our game plan around that and look forward to the contest.
'Kingy is a chance – I'll make a decision on him later today so we'll figure that out.
'He's not completely ruled out but he's probably more likely not to make it.
'Danny had his surgery on Tuesday. I don't want to put a timeframe on it because everyone beats them these days but he'll be a while.'
In a period in which new injuries are seemingly being picked up every week, recent days appear to have been somewhat kinder to Warrington in that there are no fresh fitness issues within their ranks.
Second-rower Lachlan Fitzgibbon had been a concern after he did not return for the second half at Magic but Burgess reiterated that he is expected to be fit.
'Lachlan's battered and bruised but he'll be okay,' he said.
'We play a collision sport so it happens. Injuries are part of it so it's about adjusting on the run, which I feel we're doing pretty well.
'The contest will be won or lost regardless of injuries – I hear there's a bit of talk of injuries elsewhere, but we'll just get on with it.'
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