Leeming, Wood in Giants call-up

Photo: Dave Murgatroyd

STEPPING IN . . . Young centre Sam Wood tries to skip beyond a tackle

DUAL-REG duo Sam Wood and Kruise Leeming, who played key roles in Oldham's 26-18 win against Whitehaven, have been called up to Huddersfield Giants' 19-man squad for tonight's televised Super League clash with table-topping Hull FC.

Darnell McIntosh, who played full-back for Roughyeds at Dewsbury on June 12, is also included as caretaker boss Andy Kelly readjusts to replace the injured Scott Grix and Joe Wardle and the suspended Danny Brough.

With Giants in action tonight and Oldham playing at Sheffield Eagles tomorrow night (8pm), usual time-lines used by the partner clubs to handle dual-registration systems can't be operated in this instance.

It remains to be seen whether Roughyeds will have use of any of the Giants up-and-coming youngsters when they go the Sheffield Hallam University Sports Park.

"It makes things a little bit more complicated than when we're both playing on a Sunday, but we'll see what happens," said Oldham boss Scott Naylor.

He has had the use of half a dozen young Giants players so far this year, headed by Liam Johnson (13 appearances), Tyler Dickinson (6), Sam Wood (5), Kruise Leeming (4), Jared Simpson (3) and Darnell McIntosh (1).

Naylor will have to find a replacement for injured Jack Spencer, but Will Hope will be in the running for that.

Jack Holmes, Lewis Palfrey, Steve Roper, Adam Files and Kenny Hughes will also be available for a recall.

Added Naylor: "We've three or four tough games coming up, so we need to use the full squad and go out feeling as fit and as fresh as we can possibly be.

"The players who then get a chance need to grab it with both hands."

Sheffield ended a run of six defeats in a row to blast Featherstone Rovers 35-10 at home last Friday night.

New signing Nathan Chappell, on debut, made a big difference at centre as the Eagles showed glimpses of the side that spent most of last season among the division's elite.

Former Oldham star George Tyson is suspended, but his ex-Whitebank team mate Adam Neal will be available for a recall after missing the Rovers game because of sickness.

Two new loan signings from Catalans Dragons, full-back Stan Robin and forward Thibaut Margalet, are in line for home debuts.