Wests Tigers coach Mick Potter has warned his injured stars that they face the prospect of long stints in NSW Cup if the NRL side performs in the coming weeks.
Potter has put the ball in the hands of the youngsters brought into plug the gaps caused by a raft of injuries to big names like Benji Marshall, Braith Anasta and Keith Galloway.
Potter will debut a halves combination featuring Curtis Sironen and Tim Moltzen when Wests Tigers take on Brisbane Broncos at Campbelltown Sports Stadium on Saturday at 7.30pm.
Sironen was just two weeks ago playing Holden Cup football while Moltzen lined up at fullback.
"It is difficult, obviously you want your most senior, your best players on the field all the time," said Potter.
"But what it does is give is some young guys a chance to play at the top level and to test themselves to see if they're up with it.
"You don't take it for granted that you're going to be an NRL player.
"I'm sure some of our injured guys would be worried if our guys start to kick along that they might take a little bit of time to get back or might never get back.
"I'm hopeful that every one plays good. There's a lot of pressure on within."
Potter is confident in his young combinations, following a pre-season training for such eventualities.
"It's not like the players haven't played together," said Potter.
"They've done a lot of training together in the pre-season.
"It's a good test for us. We've got a few young guys in, we'll see how they go against one of the better teams"
WATCH THE FULL PRESS CONFERENCE ABOVE OR VIEW ON WESTS TIGERS TV
WESTS TIGERS TEAM TO PLAY BRONCOS
MATCH DAY INFORMATION
BUY TICKETS TO THE BRONCOS GAME
Potter has put the ball in the hands of the youngsters brought into plug the gaps caused by a raft of injuries to big names like Benji Marshall, Braith Anasta and Keith Galloway.
Potter will debut a halves combination featuring Curtis Sironen and Tim Moltzen when Wests Tigers take on Brisbane Broncos at Campbelltown Sports Stadium on Saturday at 7.30pm.
Sironen was just two weeks ago playing Holden Cup football while Moltzen lined up at fullback.
"It is difficult, obviously you want your most senior, your best players on the field all the time," said Potter.
"But what it does is give is some young guys a chance to play at the top level and to test themselves to see if they're up with it.
"You don't take it for granted that you're going to be an NRL player.
"I'm sure some of our injured guys would be worried if our guys start to kick along that they might take a little bit of time to get back or might never get back.
"I'm hopeful that every one plays good. There's a lot of pressure on within."
Potter is confident in his young combinations, following a pre-season training for such eventualities.
"It's not like the players haven't played together," said Potter.
"They've done a lot of training together in the pre-season.
"It's a good test for us. We've got a few young guys in, we'll see how they go against one of the better teams"
WATCH THE FULL PRESS CONFERENCE ABOVE OR VIEW ON WESTS TIGERS TV
WESTS TIGERS TEAM TO PLAY BRONCOS
MATCH DAY INFORMATION
BUY TICKETS TO THE BRONCOS GAME
