Thursday 2 October 2014 11:02, UK
Warrington Wolves coach Tony Smith will make a late decision on the fitness of full-back Matty Russell ahead of Friday's semi-final against Wigan.
The 21-year-old Scotland international, who began his career at Wigan, was forced to sit out the Wolves' preliminary semi-final at Castleford last week after suffering an horrific facial injury in their opening playoff win over Widnes.
Russell was detained overnight in hospital after being badly concussed and sustaining a mouth injury in a front-on collision with Widnes forward Magraff Leuluai.
He was named in Smith's 19-man squad on Wednesday after resuming full training but will be further assessed by the coach after the squad's final run.
"We haven't made a final decision on him," said Smith. "He's trained with us today and he'll have the team run tomorrow before we make the call.
He's been given the all-clear - he can't do any more damage and his dentist has told he has fractured high in his teeth so he's probably going to lose them - but we've got to work out whether Matty is able to play with that discomfort.
"He's been given the all-clear - he can't do any more damage and his dentist has told he has fractured high in his teeth so he's probably going to lose them - but we've got to work out whether Matty is able to play with that discomfort.
"I'm expecting him to say he's alright to go and I totally trust his decision. He'll go and give it his all if he goes on the park."
Smith knows he faces a tricky selection poser if Russell is fit to return after the versatile Stefan Ratchford produced a man-of-the-match display at full-back in Warrington's 30-14 win over the Tigers.
"Stef going well last week eases the pressure of Matty either making it or not making it," Smith said. "It gives me a good dilemma.
“If he's able to make it, it's going to be hard to leave him out because he's been a super player for us this year. If he does turn out, I can find a way to use Stef somewhere."
