Waratahs get injury boost
April 15, 2002

The Waratahs look set to have a full squad to choose from for Saturday's crunch match against the ACT Brumbies, with wingers Scott Staniforth and Marc Stcherbina rated strong chances to recover from injuries suffered in the 31-13 win over the Highlanders.

Stcherbina (pictured) collided with teammate Phil Waugh during the match, suffering a small fracture to his cheekbone, but after the initial diagnosis called for three weeks out, scans have revealed the damage isn't as bad as first thought and he may still play this week.

"He's about a 70 per cent chance, which is a lot better than we thought," a Waratahs' spokesman said. "He's got a black eye but other than that things are looking good."

Staniforth had a scan as well on the knee injury that has been troubling him for the last few weeks, but is also expected to play this week.

NSW coach Bob Dwyer has handy replacements if either or both don't come up in time to face the Brumbies though, with back-up flyhalf Manuel Edmonds and stand-in wingers Tui Talaia or Francis Cullimore to be named on standby.

Lock Jono West is also available after serving his three-week suspension for stamping, but is no certainty of coming straight back into the line-up with Van Humphries and Tom Bowman both given strong chances to retain their places ahead of him.

Bowman showed patches of the form that saw him regularly partner John Eales in the Wallaby team four years ago, and Dwyer is believed to be considering leaving him in a starting role to help bolster his confidence after a poor recent run with injuries.

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