Braveheart

WOLVES are so hungry to return to winning ways that captain Lee Briers will be 'risked' against Salford despite having a broken finger.

Wolves lost the two Easter Super League matches in which Briers did not play and the side will have to fight tooth and nail to get back on track and take winning points off Salford on Saturday, champions Bradford on Tuesday and then highly improved Huddersfield Giants the following Sunday.

Head coach Paul Cullen needs his steely leader on the field to help spark the team's response to crashing out of the Challenge Cup semi-finals in disappointing fashion.

Briers went into the Wigan cup defeat on Sunday with a fracture to a finger on his left hand and took another bang on it during the game.

Cullen said: "Lee has been for an x-ray this week and it showed what we expected. He went into the game with a broken finger and hit the broken finger again, it's as simple as that. We expect him to be available for the Salford game."

He went on to say that it was the right decision to play Briers against Wigan - and to leave out the other big guns who were not fit enough - and that to continue to play Briers is important for the team.

Cullen said: "I've no regrets about Lee playing against Wigan. He's very brave, he's very honest and he played to the best of his ability although there is more to come from him and the team. We operate better shape and better structure when he is on the field.

"As a team we need more continuity. We don't make too much of the injuries we have but we're a far better side when we can keep similar bodies and certainly the same half backs on the field for considerable time.

"We operate a no risk approach to a point. There is a risk in playing Lee Briers but it is one that medically we find acceptable and so does the player. How long we continue to do that depends on how we're going."

The Wolves' chief expects Graham Appo (hamstring), Brent Grose (twisted ankle), Chris Leikvoll (calf strain) and Paul Wood (personal problem) to return either at The Willows on Saturday, kick-off 6pm, or on Tuesday against Bradford at The Halliwell Jones Stadium, kick-off 8pm.

But as well as physical fitness considerations Cullen will be judging his players on how they have responded to Sunday's cup disappointment before selecting his squad.

The only definite absentees for the two games are prop Mark Hilton, with a dead leg, and winger John Wilshere, with his long standing fractured cheekbone problem while Darren Burns is a doubt with an ankle twist.

Cullen said: "I'm quite adament that we need the big guns back on to win some of these big games that we have coming up.

"But the season doesn't depend on one game and if we push players too much and the injuries go again then we're in grave danger of blowing the season and we can't allow that to happen.

"We're not chasing instant glory although it would be very nice. If it doesn't happen, we've simply got to tough it out. The key is that the players have a long season ahead and that has to be judged more than any short term gain."

Wolves will face a Salford side that have lost their last two games heavily against St Helens and Leeds but prior to that pushed teams like Wigan and Bradford to the wire.

Cullen said: "The danger sign approaching the Salford match is spelt W, I, D, N, E, S. And that's enough said because Widnes came to Warrington on Good Friday in awful form and came through with an eight-point win."

Wolves' in form forward Mike Wainwright is looking forward to his first return to the Willows since leaving Salford in 2002.

He said: "Nothing but two points will do. The game is a little extra special for me because I've got a lot of friends there.

"Andy Coley, Malcolm Alker and Paul Highton were there for the three years I was there and we were close. Andy's from Warrington and we travelled together.

"It is a little different when you play against mates and it generally brings out best performances in players."

Centre Grose is hoping to figure against Salford.

He said: "The two games this week are going to be a huge test of our character but I'm sure we will come back strong from the cup defeat. We've a great team spirit here and it's time to prove it."