PAUL Cullen fears he could be without Jon Clarke for the rest of the season and has asked Wolves fans to remain realistic in the wake of a crippling injury list.

Clarke picked up a shoulder injury in Wolves' 30-12 defeat at Wigan on Friday and is soon expected to find out how long he will be out after going for a second scan.

But Cullen is not optimistic about the outcome and believes Wolves, who have disappointingly lost their last four games and are now six points behind the top four in the Super League table, will not reach the top of their form until key players return from injury.

He said: "We expect the worst with Jon Clarke.

"We think the second scan will confirm what we already expect - he has a tear in his shoulder and he needs a reconstruction, which possibly could finish his season.

"If it is anything less than that it is a bonus, but he is in great pain and discomfort.

"The injury was immediate and he hit the floor very hard. He fell out of the back of a tackle, landed awkwardly on his arm and the shoulder ripped at the back and came out.

"It's just one of the many body blows I've had to mention in the past month.

"Paul Rauhihi, Logan Swann, the two Gleesons, Henry Fa'afili and Mark Hilton were all unavailable for the Wigan game and Jon Clarke was injured during it.

"Ben Harrison was also not too far away from a debut but he went down with a cartilage operation.

"We understand and feel everyone's disappointment at the moment but it is no more so than ours.

"We might need to remind one or two that when we put our best side out on the field during that fine run of form in March, April and May, we had our best players in their preferred positions playing exceptionally well and knocking off a lot of big guns.

"The bottom line is that combination is being denied to us now.

"By a mile, it's the worst injury situation I've had since I returned to the club.

"I defy any Super League team to lose seven of their big players and still maintain their form for a lengthy period. We have struggled to do so."

But Wolves should receive a boost for Sunday's Sky-televised trip to Castleford, kick-off 12.30pm, after Martin Gleeson (broken hand) and Fa'afili (knee and hand) returned from injury in Tuesday's XXXX Test between Great Britain and New Zealand.

Both appeared to come through the game unscathed and are confident of being involved at the Jungle.

Seventeen-year-old forward Michael Cooper is likely to make his Super League debut from the bench but Hilton may again be absent with a recurring back problem that flared up last week.

Tigers v Wolves - statisical preview

Last meeting: Tigers 6 Wolves 64, April 17, 2006. Henry Fa'afili and Martin Gleeson crossed twice, with Toa Kohe-Love, Jon Clarke, Michael Sullivan, Lee Briers, Paul Wood, Paul Rauhihi and Rob Parker also scoring. Briers added 10 goals. Away record versus Tigers in Super League: Played 12, won 8, drawn 0, lost 4, points scored 320, points conceded 244. Coach: Terry Matterson. Form guide - Tigers' last five games: Hull (A) lost 28-10, Huddersfield (H) won 32-14, Bradford (H) drew 26-26, Warrington (A) lost 46-28, Catalans (H) lost 40-18. Team for last match: Michael Platt; Waine Pryce, Gray Viane, Ryan McGoldrick, Michael Shenton; Peter Lupton, Danny Brough; Danny Sculthorpe, Andy Henderson, Danny Nutley, Danny Ward, Willie Manu, Ben Roarty. Subs: Paul Handforth, Craig Huby, Richard Fa'aoso, Adam Fletcher. Team news: Danny Nutley and Richard Fa'aoso have escaped bans despite being put on report at Hull. Links with Tigers: Prop Danny Nutley had four seasons with Wolves. Danger man: Danny Brough has the creativity to trouble Wolves. Referee: Steve Ganson.

Results and fixtures

Other Super League Round 18 results: Bradford 42 Huddersfield 16, Catalans 38 Harlequins 18, Hull 28 Castleford 10, Leeds 36 Wakefield 20, St Helens 28 Salford 6.

Super League Round 19 fixtures for tomorrow, Friday: Salford v Bradford. Saturday: Catalans v Hull, Harlequins v Wigan (Sky 6pm). Sunday: Castleford v Warrington (Sky 12.30pm), Huddersfield v Leeds, Wakefield v St Helens.