Huddersfield Giants duo ‘can do the job’, insists Simon Woolford

He is already without first-choice stand-off Lee Gaskell who continues to recover from a broken thumb.

And scrum-half Aidan Sezer – the club’s captain and marquee signing from Canberra Raiders – is a major doubt after limping off with a hamstring strain in the 19-18 loss against Warrington Wolves last time out.

Woolford said at the time that if Sezer had been fit for those closing stages, they may have closed the win out.

The relatively inexperienced Russell, 20, came on for the Australian, and along with former Featherstone Rovers half-back Holmes, they struggled in the defining moments of a fiercely tight contest.

But Woolford said: “We have two young halves here that are here for a reason – to back Seze and Gasky up.

“If Seze doesn’t make it – and I’d be surprised if he did – we’ve Tom Holmes and Olly Russell who’ll go straight in.

“There’s no worries there at all. I’ve full belief that those two guys can do the job. They deserve their opportunity and they may get that this week playing together.”

Another option would be to bring Jordan Turner back into the side, the experienced centre who can also play stand-off or No 13.

Huddersfield are certainly light on numbers, even so soon after the season resumed.

Blockbusting Tongan second-row Ukuma Ta’ai limped off against Warrington and has been told he could miss the rest of the season.

Woolford said: “Ukuma’s got a really bad lateral ligament injury in his ankle.

“They’re talking three or four months so there’s every possibility he won’t play again this year. It’s disappointing; it was rather innocuous and didn’t look anything real serious but as it’s turned out it is.

“We have to get on with things without Ukuma now, unfortunately.”

Ta’ai, who joined in 2013, is out of contract this season. Asked if it might have been the last time fans see him in Huddersfield colours, Woolford added: “It’d be a real shame for Ukuma not to play for the club again.

“We have a couple of guys sort of in limbo for next year and out of contract. He’s had a good run here. Someone said he’s been here nine years and I’d certainly like to think he hasn’t played his last game for the club. But we’ll have to wait and see.”

Prop Paul Clough has also left for Widnes Vikings while Adam Walne, Joe Wardle and Aaron Murphy are still not available.

Woolford conceded: “When it rains it pours. We’ve had a couple of tight losses and on the back of it we’ve lost quite a few blokes.

“It’s a tough period for us. We knew it was going to come at some stage. We didn’t anticipate it was going to be this early.

“But again we’ve got depth in the squad and I’m confident in the players that will come in,” he added.

Prop James Gavet is serving a 14-day ban for breaking Covid protocols and is not allowed to return to training until today.

Castleford Tigers could give former Giants prop Daniel Smith his first appearance of the season after he was named in the 21-man squad to face Wigan Warriors tomorrow.

Castleford coach Daryl Powell is also able to include Jake Trueman after he pulled out against St Helens last time out due to a back problem.

There is still no debut for winger Sosaia Feki, though, the former Cronulla Sharks star who had hoped to feature but has now dropped out of the 21.

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James Mitchinson