Paris will miss Russell

Paris St-Germain are forced to move their captain and centre, Pierre Chamorin, to loose forward for a match of considerable resonance against the London Broncos this evening, writes Dave Hadfield.

Chamorin replaces Ian Russell, even though the Australian forward's suspension was reduced from two matches to one on appeal yesterday.

The Paris coach, John Kear, admits that he would have liked to have Russell available, now that defeat at Workington last week has left the club in the ominous shadow of the guillotine. "He is a bit like Malcolm Reilly at Castleford in the 1970s," he said. "You would want him there on one leg, for the influence he has on the others."

Kear has elected to give another Australian, George Wilson, his full debut on the right wing and gives Danny Smith, who was sacked by the Broncos for missing training earlier this year, a run in the second row.

London retain the team who overwhelmed Sheffield last week, with the 17-year-old Tony Martin keeping his place at full-back after an impressive debut. There is still no sign of a return for the Broncos' most experienced forwards, Terry Matterson and Gavin Allen.

Iestyn Harris returns for Warrington - London's rivals for a top four place - for tomorrow's trip to Workington, who still need a result or two between now and the end of the season to climb above Paris at the foot of the table.

St Helens will be without Scott Gibbs for the visit of those accomplished travellers, Halifax, after his appeal against a two-match suspension failed. They are delaying decisions on the fitness or otherwise of Bobbie Goulding and Chris Joynt.

Leeds should have Tony Kemp back in action at Sheffield and there is a chance that both Kevin Iro and Francis Cummins could also return, to give their back line a more potent look.