GRAEME HORNE has been ruled out of Sunday’s Carnegie Challenge Cup clash at Batley after picking up a one-match ban.
The Giants utility forward admitted making a dangerous tackle on Catalan back-rower Jason Baitieri during his side’s 13-12 defeat in Perpignan last Saturday and was suspended by the Rugby Football League’s disciplinary panel last night.
Horne was also fined £300 for the incident, which had been placed on report.
There was no guarantee Horne would have featured this weekend anyway, with Giants coach Nathan Brown planning to make several changes to his side.
“It’s our intention to give a couple of our younger players a game, but not too many,” said Brown.
“We’ve still got a couple of blokes who haven’t missed a game this year, while others are carrying slight knocks.
“We’ll obviously take a good look at the state of the squad now they’re back in for training, and that’s when we’ll start to finalise the 17 for Sunday.”
Among those with a question mark still remaining over their fitness is in-form back-rower Dale Ferguson.
The former Wakefield Trinity Wildcats man suffered a hand injury during the French clash and will see a specialist today to get the results of his scan.
The Giants Under 18s host Wakefield in the Valvoline Academy at the YMCA tonight (7.30).
