BIG Giants prop Jon Grayshon has been handed a golden opportunity to shoot up the club's front-row pecking order.
Huddersfield coach Jon Sharp today confirmed fellow prop Eorl Crabtree has been ruled for at least the next four weeks with a shin injury.
That's a bitter blow for the Giants as they look to get their Super League play-off bid back on track with victory over bottom club Castleford Tigers at the Galpharm Stadium on Sunday (3.00).
But coach Jon Sharp is more than happy to let the 6ft 6in, 17st 7lb Grayshon fill in for Crabtree and carry on from where he left off against Leeds Rhinos five days ago.
"Losing Eorl is another big injury blow," admitted Sharp.
"He had been suffering an infection in a shin which needed a course of high-dosage antibiotics to clear.
"Unfortunately, he now has an abscess as a result, and that will take four weeks to clear up.
"To say that's bad luck is an understatement.
"But Eorl's misfortune could work very much to Jon's advantage.
"He came in to make first start of the season against Leeds at the weekend in place of Eorl and did tremendously well.
"I was delighted with the way he took his chance and the door has been left wide open for him to stake a regular claim.
"It's possible this is the break Jon's been waiting for.
"He knows he's got another major chance to impress against Castleford on Sunday and is eager to make the most of it.
"Castleford are getting players back and looking much stronger in the pack, and I'm looking for Jon and the rest of my pack to take the game to them."
Injuries are again making life difficult for Sharp on selection.
He is confident full-back Paul Reilly will return after he missed the Leeds game with an ankle injury, but still has a major question mark over Stanley Gene (foot).
"Paul's recovering well and should be ready to come back into the full-back spot," confirmed Sharp.
"But there's still a little concern over Stanley.
"He's now not very far away, but is still suffering some reaction whenever he tries to operate flat-out.
"We're working at getting him right for Widnes the following Sunday."
