Bridge to success?

1:17pm Thursday 6th September 2007

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CHRIS Bridge looks likely to return from injury at St Helens tomorrow night, Friday, and Paul Cullen hopes the stand off will prove to be a key man in the crucial final weeks of the season.

Wolves are expected to reunite Bridge with Lee Briers in the halves at Knowsley Road, kick-off 8pm, with the 23-year-old now over the knee injury that has kept him out since mid-August.

Bridge, who has only been fit to figure in 14 matches this season and will face extra competition in the halves from Michael Monaghan in 2008, ended last year well and played an important role in the play-off win at Leeds.

Injury-stricken Wolves, who slipped to sixth in the table after Friday's 34-22 home defeat to Huddersfield and do not expect loose forward Vinnie Anderson to return from a back injury until next week's final league match at Salford, need another strong finish from Bridge if they are to approach their best form.

"He certainly was important at the end of last year," Cullen said. "As we've seen this year, when we've got a fully fit Chris Bridge he's a very dynamic attacking player.

"Although Jon Clarke did very well at stand off and we scored four tries down our left edge against Huddersfield, we're a better balanced side with Chris Bridge at stand off and Jon Clarke back in the middle.

"That's not to discredit Jon, who I think has done an exceptional job for us all year, but Chris Bridge is a fantastic runner of the ball.

"We can't go to Saints and try to defend against them, we've got to try to outscore them and outplay them.

"Next year we're going to have the added bonus of Lee Briers, Michael Monaghan and Chris Bridge fighting for the half back positions. The bottom line is that you've got to get Chris Bridge in your team somewhere."

Cullen has warned that Bridge may not be at full fitness tomorrow and that could mean Lee Briers continuing with the goal-kicking, even though the skipper has at times struggled for form in that department.

Briers is one of several players playing through the pain barrier and Cullen, who saw his side win four in a row before the injuries returned, says the club's medical woes are not aiding their chances of finishing the season in style.

Paul Wood was the latest player to be ruled out for the rest of the campaign and he could be out for several months if he needs a full shoulder reconstruction after a serious dislocation against Huddersfield.

Paul Rauhihi will also be absent tomorrow after being handed a one-match ban for a spear tackle during Friday's game.

But Adrian Morley has escaped a suspension for a high tackle in the same match and could fill in at prop, while Chris Riley (ankle) is available again.

Cullen said: "We're not losing games because we've necessarily got players injured and sat in the stand, we're carrying so many injuries with players we're putting out on the field.

"I'm sure a lot of teams are in a similar situation at this moment but we can't refresh anyone. We can't sit Lee Briers down and get him fully recovered, we've got to get him back out training and playing.

"The injuries aren't helping but we can't go past that point because it's almost an admission of defeat.

"We're hardened by the difficulties we're facing."

Tomorrow's match, which Wolves may have to win to keep their chances of a top six spot in their own hands going into the final weekend of the regular season, will be refereed by Ashley Klein.

Wolves were unhappy with Klein on the last three occasions he took charge of them - at Bradford, Catalans and Hull.

Wolves' 18-man squad: Brent Grose, Kevin Penny, Martin Gleeson, Ben Westwood, Henry Fa'afili, Jon Clarke, Lee Briers, Mark Gleeson, Andy Bracek, Adrian Morley, Ben Harrison, Chris Leikvoll, Rob Parker, Steve Pickersgill, Lee Mitchell, Chris Bridge, Matty Blythe, Chris Riley.

* Simon Grix is expected to find out today whether he needs an operation after suffering potentially serious ankle ligament damage two weeks ago.