UNDER 21s star David Highton is preparing for his first Super League appearance of 1999.

The 19-year-old will play hooker for the Wolves at Sheffield Eagles tomorrow, Saturday, if Danny Farrar does not recover in time from the dead leg injury he picked up in Warrington's win over London Broncos.

Wigan-based Highton, renowned for his toughness, played five games at hooker at the end of the 1998 campaign and did a solid job, leaving coach Darryl Van de Velde with no concerns about throwing him in against livewire Johnny Lawless at Don Valley Stadium.

And Van de Velde looks certain to reshuffle his backs too with Lee Penny starting his first game for three weeks at full back.

Jason Roach, who bravely turned out against London with a bad ankle injury amid a wing fitness crisis, is likely to miss out.

Alan Hunte, who also played at the weekend with a leg injury, will switch to the wing to allow for Penny's return.

Van de Velde said: "It's not a case of moving Alan because he has not done the job. But I want my best available side on the field for this game and full back is really the only position for Lee."

Every game is now a massive one for the Wolves as they strive for the top five. For as long as the teams above them keep winning, Warrington must do so too. They can not afford any mishaps.

All eyes will be on Warrington's in-form centre Toa Kohe-Love. Sheffield boss John Kear wants Kohe-Love in his England squad but the Wolves ace has elected for New Zealand and do not bet against the Kiwi rubbing salt into Kear's wounds.

The Wolves will be on their guard though. The Eagles inflicted a seventh successive defeat on Wakefield at Belle Vue at the weekend and took a 12-0 lead at home against Wigan on Wednesday before fading to a 36-12 beating after losing in form stand off Martin Pearson with a knee injury.

Sheffield will probably be without their powerful Australian centre Karl Lovell who picked up a three match ban this week for 'striking with the forearm' at Wakefield, a game in which six players were sin-binned, one sent off, three placed on report and Sheffield forwards Dale Laughton and Michael Jackson having to leave the field hurt. Lovell was appealing against his suspension yesterday, Thursday, as the GUARDIAN went to press.

Warrington, who have not won at Sheffield in Super League, can take confidence from John Kear's 10th-placed side having only won one of their last five games and from having had a five-day break from action in comparison to the Eagles' two-day rest.

Warrington Wolves U21s Alliance are home to Sheffield Eagles tonight, Friday, kick-off 7.30pm. Dean Hanger could be making his return from a rib injury.

Unlucky Chris Rudd has been ruled out for the rest of the season after an operation to repair his bicep muscle tear.

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