Fit-again trio Scott Grix, Michael Lawrence and Kyle Wood are knocking on the Huddersfield Giants’ Super League XX door.
All three senior players reinforced their match fitness by playing a second full game for dual-registration club Oldham at the weekend.
Full-back Grix (shoulder), back-rower Lawrence (wrist) and hooker/half-back Wood (knee) made their competitive return to action following major surgery in the narrow pre-season defeat at Leigh 11 days ago and then backed it up with solid displays in Sunday’s 36-26 trial defeat at Barrow.
With all 17 who featured in the 24-16 Super League defeat at Wigan Warriors having emerged unscathed, it’s possible head coach Paul Anderson could stick to the same line-up for next Thursday’s trip to Leeds Rhinos.
But the Giants chief admits it’s a big positive to know he’s now got more options available to him.
“These two games have done them a power of good, and I’m really grateful to (Oldham coach) Scott Naylor for giving them the chance to play,” said Anderson.
“It’s definitely physical at that level and all three were nursing sore bodies on Monday, which is the way it should be, because you can’t replicate that sort of thing on the training field.
“I watched a recording of the Leigh game when Bruno and Woody played well and then went up to see the Barrow game at the weekend when Woody and Grixy played well.
“At this stage, I don’t know if they’ll get the chance to play at Leeds next Thursday. We’ve a fair amount of work to do between now and then.
“But all three are definitely a lot closer than they were a couple of weeks ago.”
