RUGBY LEAGUE: Edwards heartens Wigan

RUGBY LEAGUE Fears that Shaun Edwards could be out for the season with knee ligament damage have been allayed and he could even be able to play for Wigan in their Regal Trophy semi-final against Castleford on Sunday, writes Dave Hadfield.

"It [Edwards' injury] is not as bad as we thought," said the Wigan coach, Graeme West, after the player had seen a specialist yesterday. "He has an outside chance of being fit for the weekend."

The Trophy holders, Castleford, expect to have Graham Steadman and Richard Goddard, both of whom missed their quarter-final victory at Leeds, fit for the semi-final.

Following the mix-up over Leeds' use of the blood-bin in that tie, the League has warned that clubs must let the referee know they are making a temporary substitution.

Otherwise, it will count as one of the four ordinary substitutions they are allowed per match - as happened to Leeds on Saturday.