DAVID FAIUMU could be fit for the start of the season.
The 28-year-old utility forward underwent major shoulder surgery at the end of last season as the Giants suffered more than most on the injury front.
Galpharm chief Nathan Brown has already confirmed David Fa’alogo (back), Luke O’Donnell (knee), Larne Patrick (wrist) and new signing from Wakefield Aaron Murphy (wrist) will all remain on the sidelines until March.
And it was initially feared Faiumu would also be absent for at least the first month of the new Super League campaign.
But Brown is now hopeful the former New Zealand Test ace will be in contention for Huddersfield’s opening game of the 2012 season at Wigan Warriors on Sunday, February 5.
“Fuey’s recovery is going well,” said Brown.
“He’s due to see his surgeon in the next week or two, when hopefully he’ll get the all-clear to play.
“But even if he can’t return straight away, we don’t expect him to miss many games, which is a real positive given the nature of the surgery.
“Fuey’s been struggling for some time, so we hope that when he does return he can put all this firmly behind him and get back to his best as quickly as possible.”
Brown is also hoping England Knights centre Michael Lawrence will also be back sooner rather than later after wrist surgery.
“Like Fuey, we initially thought Bruno might not be available for the opening weeks,” added the head coach.
“But he also now has a chance of making that first game at Wigan and is looking in good shape.”
With so many senior players still in rehabilitation, the Giants will almost certainly give a number of the club’s rising stars a run-out in their opening pre-season test at top-flight rivals Castleford Tigers a week tonight.
