Friday 22 August 2014 18:43, UK
Castleford will hand Craig Huby a fitness test on the morning of the Tetley's Challenge Cup final before deciding their team to take on Leeds.
Prop Huby dislocated his elbow in the Tigers' 28-6 triumph over Widnes in the semi-finals on August 10 but is still hopeful of playing a part in the game at Wembley on Saturday.
We've got to give him as much opportunity as he needs. He's an important player for us. I'm pretty confident he'll be okay. If he plays, he will be fit.
The 28-year-old took part in a light training session at the venue for the final on Friday afternoon with the joint heavily strapped, and coach Daryl Powell is giving the player every chance to feature.
"Huby has trained okay," Powell said after the session. "Obviously they're not bashing each other around there but he's done a fair bit of work this week.
"He'll have a fitness test in the morning. Hopefully he'll be fit. But we'll have a look in the morning and just make sure he's ready to go.
"We've got to give him as much opportunity as he needs. He's an important player for us. I'm pretty confident he'll be okay. If he plays, he will be fit."
The final decision over Huby's availability will be made by the man himself, according to Powell.
"It's me and him." he added. "We've done all that, there's no major issues from that point of view.
"He's got to be confident that he can deliver his best performance and, if he tells me that he is and I see him do a couple of things in the morning, then we'll go with that."
Leeds coach Brian McDermott, who named his 17 at the start of the week, expects Huby to be in Castleford's line-up.
"I think he's got a chance," McDermott said. "He's dislocated his elbow, which to your average man in the street means a number of months off.
"But it looked like it went back in. (They will) strap it up and put some injections in it. He's an important part of what they do."
