MATT Dufty's earlier-than-expected return to the Warrington Wolves team has moved a step closer.

Yesterday, head coach Sam Burgess hinted the full-back may be in contention to face Huddersfield Giants on Saturday just three weeks after undergoing surgery on a knee injury.

Now, Dufty has been named in The Wire's 21-man squad for the Round 26 trip to the John Smith's Stadium as they bid to keep their hopes of a top-two finish alive.

There could also be a big return in the pack, with prop James Harrison in contention to feature having missed the past two games with a lower leg injury.

Burgess is still without prop Paul Vaughan, who serves the second game of a three-match ban, while second-rower Lachlan Fitzgibbon is also unavailable through a one-match suspension although he has also suffered a recurrence of the shoulder injury that recently saw him miss seven matches.

The returns of Dufty and Harrison in place of Fitzgibbon and second rower Adam Holroyd are the only changes from the 21 Burgess named for last weekend's victory over St Helens

Warrington Wolves squad to face Huddersfield Giants, Super League Round 26

Matty Ashton, John Bateman, Jordy Crowther, Ben Currie, Josh Drinkwater, Matt Dufty, James Harrison, Toby King, Arron Lindop, Zane Musgrove, Matty Nicholson, Joe Philbin, Sam Powell, Rodrick Tai, Cai Taylor-Wray, Josh Thewlis, Danny Walker, Tom Whitehead, George Williams, Max Wood, Luke Yates