STEPHEN WILD looks to have won his personal duel with Danny Kirmond to be the first back in action in Super League XV.

Both back-row forwards have now returned to full training with the senior squad after their time in rehabilitation following knee surgery.

The 24-year-old Kirmond required a knee reconstruction after suffering major damage during the narrow defeat at St Helens in August, while 28-year-old Wild underwent close-season surgery as part of a clean-up operation.

As a result, the players spent the winter months working on their rehab with conditioner Greg Brown.

That process has now been completed, with Wild joining the rest of his teammates in mid-February and Kirmond following suit just over a week later.

Now, former Great Britain back-rower Wild has been included in a 19-man squad for the first time for tonight’s clash at Wakefield.

And although he isn’t expected to be included in the final 17, Wild is delighted he’s now so close to getting back on the competitive field in as quick a time as he could have hoped.

“It was a great feeling to finally join up with the rest of the boys the other week,” said Wild. “It’s really tough in rehab, particularly as Greg makes sure you’re not allowed to take things easy, but it’s now that you can start to appreciate it was all worthwhile.

“My knee’s feeling fine and I feel good in training, which is a bonus.

“I’m obviously a bit behind the rest of the boys in terms of my fitness, because most of them have done a full pre-season.

“But I don’t feel as if I’m that far away now, and it’ll be great to get back on the field again. Having to watch from the stands isn’t exactly my idea of fun!

“I am at least back before Danny, although I did feel a bit tight having to leave him in rehab on his own.

“Because we’ve both been recovering from knee surgery, a lot of the work we’ve been doing has been pretty similar, so we’ve been able to keep each other going when the sessions have been tough.

“Fortunately, he still had Drewy (Brad Drew is also recovering from knee surgery) to keep him company, but I know how desperate he was to follow me out.

“That’s something Danny’s done now, and I don’t think it will be too long before we see him back again as well.

“I know we’re looking strong in the back row, with Lee Gilmour and David Fa’alogo having joined us – they’ve both been very impressive – but it’s looking as if it won’t be too long before we’ve got loads of options in the back row.

“And with such a long and tough season ahead, that could be to our advantage.”

It’s a view shared by Kirmond, who knows he could well step off the training field and into a Super League prop spot.

But the former Featherstone winger isn’t going to spend any time complaining about that.

“What position I play isn’t something I’m that bothered about. I just want to get out there playing again,” he said.

“These last six months have been really hard for me, and there are times when it’s been a real battle not to feel too down.

“It was tough when Wildy moved on, but I was still happy for him and I knew I wouldn’t be too far behind him.

“So I was delighted when I was back with the boys the other week, and I’m sure Drewy will feel the same soon, too.

“But, at the same time, we’ll be feeling for Finny (Simon Finnigan).

“It’s been tough for him anyway, because he’s recovering from knee and shoulder surgery, so he’s been doing different exercises to us.

“He’s still some way from coming out of rehab and, having also been sidelined for a while, I hope we can try and involve him as much as we can in the next few months. It’s at times like this that you really do value the support of your teammates.”