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Lawrence set to return

Lawrence set to return

09/12/2011 04:26:09 AM

If trying to beat the in-form Wests Tigers in Friday night's semi-final wasn't already hard enough for the Warriors, it's about to get a whole lot tougher with star centre Chris Lawrence declaring he's ready to return to action.

Lawrence hasn't played since he injured his hamstring in the Tigers' round 22 victory over St George Illawarra.

The Test centre was close to a return in last Friday's night qualifying final against the Dragons but after an injury-plagued 2011 season opted to take the cautious approach and pulled out before kick-off.

But with the Tigers on a nine-game winning streak and about to head into a do-or-die semi-final, Lawrence declared he was a certain starter against the Warriors for the SFS encounter.

"I had a good run this morning and all felt good so I am ready to go," Lawrence told reporters on Monday.

"I trained pretty hard early in the week and my body was a bit sore and fatigued and the medical staff didn't want to risk me putting me in the game."

"They want me to start a game fresh so that's why we opted to give it that extra week."

"It's the time of the year you want to be playing footy. You don't want to be sitting it out."

Tigers coach Tim Sheens confirmed Lawrence would be named when the finals teams are announced on Tuesday but said the 22-year-old still had to come through another couple of training sessions before he would take his place.

"We've obviously got to week the work with him and make sure everything's ok but we're pretty confident he'll be alright," Sheens said.

"He's been a key part of our team all year but unfortunately he's had a few problems with injury."

"Every time he's come back he's played well for us."

"But it's going to take a team effort to beat this team (the Warriors) on the weekend."

Tigers skipper Robbie Farah added: "He's going to be a massive boost for us."

"In my opinion he's a representative player, an Australian player and to have him back is going to be a massive."

"It's great to get that left edge back together which can be pretty dangerous at times."

The Warriors are also a dangerous proposition and Lawrence said he expects Ivan Cleary's side to hit back hard following their 40-10 capitulation against Brisbane on Saturday night.

"I watched that game prett closely and they're the type of side that if all those passes had stuck they could have put 40 points on Brisbane," Lawrence said.

"The scored could have been the other way around."

"You just don’t know with them, they're such a dangerous side and if they get a sniff and if those offloads stick they can put 40 points on anyone."

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

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