GARY Chambers' back injury was threatening to rule him out of Warrington Wolves' mighty Super League battle against Leeds Rhinos as the GUARDIAN went to press.

The Cumbrian tough nut picked up the knock in last week's victory over Hull Sharks and if he does not recover in time for the trip to Headingley tonight, Friday, kick-off 7.30pm, then coach Darryl Van de Velde will have problems.

For third-placed Leeds are likely to have four prop forwards in their 17-man line-up. Warrington will be facing the biggest pack in the British game and will need all the beef they can muster.

But if Chambers fails to beat the clock, Van de Velde will have to promote a back rower to prop or call on the relatively inexperienced Warren Stevens to square up with Leeds' international trio of Darren Fleary, Martin Masella, who has been linked with a move to Wilderspool, Barry McDermott plus Jamie Mathiou.

Van de Velde may even be tempted to call on Mark Hilton, who has not played since April due to a shoulder re-build. The GUARDIAN understands Hilton is gearing up for his comeback but an Alliance Under 21s game is more likely to be targeted for his return.

The forward battle will be the crucial area in the first of three games in nine days for the Wolves.

For on Wednesday the Wolves will be travelling to the McAlpine Stadium to take on Huddersfield Giants and it will be followed by a mouthwatering top of the table encounter with Ellery Hanley's St. Helens at Wilderspool on Sunday, August 15, kick-off 6.35pm.

Van de Velde said: "This is it. The season comes down to the last seven games. All the hard work has been done and it is all about the mental part of the game now.

"All seven games are crucial to us. We've put ourselves in a genuine position to clinch a top five spot and now we've got to make sure it happens."

But Van de Velde is well aware of the task ahead of his side tonight.

He said: "Leeds are probably the best side in Super League. We're going to have to be really on our game and all of our chances will need to be taken if we are to stifle them."

Any Chambers blow could be counter-acted by the return of hooker Danny Farrar. He has had a back injury from a training session in the gym but the club are hopeful he will be banging on the first team door again tonight.

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