Salford Red Devils are confident of a successful Super League season despite a depleted squad and ongoing injury concerns at the Club.
The Red Devils, who finished just outside the play-offs last season, currently have the smallest squad in the competition, with just 24 senior players available out of a possible 35.
It’s going to be touch and go on some players fitness when Salford kick-off their campaign against Leeds Rhino’s on Friday 16th February at Headingly, with new signing Ethan Ryan already ruled out.
Head coach Paul Rowley said: “We have a couple of scan results we’re waiting on; what I can say is we won’t have 24 players for round one.
“If I have got 21 to pick from, I will be a happy man.”
With the season fast approaching, Rowley hopes that the club can add to the squad before they make the trip to the 11-time champions.
“We’re quite relaxed, but it would be unrealistic to think a 24-man squad will get through the season,” he added.
Even though Rowley created a recruitment advert published by Yorkshire Live to help boost numbers, assistant coach Kurt Haggerty played down the significance of their injury worries.
“15% of your squad is always injured during a season, so in reality its nothing too serious.
“We should be ok. If we pick up a few more (injuries) then we might be in trouble.
“I’m hoping we can get a couple more players in by the end of today.
“If we don’t get them in then we can start to panic.
“Worst case scenario is we will have to get a couple of loans in, but I’m sure we will be ok.”
Haggerty believes Salford should be challenging for silverware with home form being vital to achieving success this campaign after losing seven times at the Salford Stadium last term.
“Home form is massive for us, especially when we’re struggling on bodies it’s important we can make it a fortress.
“The aim is to win trophies, no matter what we’ve got.
“We coach to win, no matter what condition the squad is in, that will never change.”
New signing Chris Hankinson who rejoined the club in December after 10 years away added: “We should be challenging, even though we’ve lost some very important players we want to be in the play-offs at a minimum.”