Dragons v Wildcats - Teams
Catalans Dragons will be missing eight regular starters when they host Wakefield Wildcats in Perpignan on Saturday.
Last Updated: 22/08/08 2:24pm
Catalans Dragons will be missing eight regular starters when they host Wakefield Wildcats in Perpignan on Saturday.
The absentees include France prop David Ferriol, who has both a double fracture of his eye socket and a potentially serious groin injury - the latter of which could threaten his participation in the World Cup.
The 29-year-old former Limoux forward, who this week signed a new two-year contract, sustained the facial injury in last week's 22-20 win at Huddersfield which enabled the Dragons to clinch a third-place finish.
However, according to coach Mick Potter, precisely how Ferriol picked up the injury remains something of a mystery.
"He doesn't know how he did it and I can't pick it up on video," Potter said.
The eye injury will leave Ferriol sidelined for four weeks, which makes him a doubt for the Catalans' opening play-off tie on September 13th.
But, according to Potter, the player's abductor tear could prolong his absence.
"He is going for another scan and touch wood it's not too serious but it's not something you can put a time frame on," he continued.
"It could even be the end of his World Cup hopes which would be pretty disappointing for him because he was setting his sights on that. He's pretty ambitious."
The Dragons are also without forwards Alex Chan (calf) and Gregory Mounis (shoulder), who join Casey McGuire, Remi Casty, Jason Croker and Cyril Gossard on the injury list, while second-rower Jamal Fakir is suspended.
Opportunity
An opportunity has therefore presented itself for youngsters Kane Bentley, Jean Phillipe Baile and Florian Quintilla as well as Mathieu Griffi.
Griffi, an experienced prop, has been restricted to just two appearances this year because of a succession of injuries.
"Mathieu has had a real frustrating year and it will be good to see him in action," Potter added.
The Dragons are looking to complete a hat-trick of wins over Wakefield, who themselves are looking to overturn an eight-match losing run.
The Wildcats are hoping their cause will be aided by the return of Adam Watene, the front rower having recovered from a fractured eye socket.
Watene made his last appearance in the Wildcats' 26-18 win at Hull KR on June 21st - their last victory.
Full-back Paul Reilly, centre or second-rower Kevin Henderson and forward Jay Pitts are also in line for a recall but Wakefield will be without forwards Richard Moore and Jason Golden.
Moore is sidelined after suffering a knee injury in last Friday's 32-22 defeat at Wigan, while Golden's 22-match run is ended by a torn quad muscle.
Catalans Dragons 19-man squad: Greenshields, Murphy, Wilson, Mogg, Pelo, Bosc, Gorrell, Guisset, Raguin, Carlaw, Griffi, Elima, Duport, Bentley, Stacul, Khattabi, Baile, Quintilla, Touxagas.
Wakefield Wildcats 19-man squad: Blanch, Atkins, Reilly, Rooney, Brough, Watene, Drew, Sculthorpe, MacGillivray, Demetriou, Petersen, Bibey, Henderson, Wilkes, Gleeson, Leo-Latu, Grix, Bibb, Pitts.