STRUGGLING Giants star Brandon Costin has been ruled out of Sunday's Super League trip to Salford (3.00).
The 29-year-old Australian playmaker was forced off the field with a hamstring injury after 13 minutes of his side's game against Wakefield.
It's a problem Costin has had for over a month, and coach Jon Sharp believes a break could do him a power of good.
But his absence means the Giants will again be without two main strikeplayers in Costin and Stanley Gene, who will be out for a further two weeks following minor groin surgery.
"Losing Brandon is a big blow for us, and it was a concern how we lost our way against Wakefield when he went off," admitted Sharp.
"But there's no way we could play him this weekend.
"We need to get him right now, so that he can play as big a part for us as possible in our end-of-season run-in.
"It's up to those who take his place to make sure they take the initiative and get us back on track this weekend.
"We're often accused of being a team that relies too heavily on Brandon and Stanley. This is a time to prove all the doubters wrong."
