LEIGH skipper Craig Dean is to play on despite needing major ankle surgery.

He is back in full training five weeks after damaging ankle ligaments and could even make his return in Sunday's game at Rochdale.

But he will be playing on a wing and a prayer, knowing his suspect ankle could collapse completely at any time.

He says: "There are three ligaments in the ankle - and I've snapped two of them!

"But the specialist says the ankle is still fairly stable and feels I've nothing to lose by training and playing. It could last long enough for me to get through the season . . . it might not.

"I feel it's the right thing to do and have a go, otherwise I wouldn't play again this season."

Coach Ian Millward confirmed Leigh are running a risk. "He could last two minutes, two weeks, two months. We just don't know. All we do know is the ankle needs major surgery.

"Hopefully, Craig can get through to the end of the season and then have it done. It's a bit of a long shot but it's better than no shot at all.

"The fact Craig has any chance of playing at all is down to the lad himself. He has been throughly professional in the way he has looked after the injury and gone through the rehabilitation programme."

And there was more good news for Millward when Aussie second rower Heath Cruickshank was cleared to play next Sunday, a month after fracturing his jaw.

Cruickshank could team up in an all-Aussie second row with Jamie Kennedy who came through his debut weary but with only a slight ankle strain.

Goalkicking winger Paul Wingfield also starts his comeback in the Alliance team this week after recovering from a double hernia operation.

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