Kerevi could yet face Sunwolves

Samu Kerevi could yet recover from a broken hand in time to line up in the Queensland Reds’ Super Rugby clash with the Sunwolves on Saturday.

Attacking weapon Kerevi wasn’t named in the squad for the Suncorp Stadium match, but trained strongly with the team on Thursday and will be given until the last minute to prove his fitness.

“He’s looked fairly sharp,” interim co-coach Matt O’Connor said.

“It’s one of those things, he’s a quality footballer, he’s delivered a lot for us in the last couple of rounds before the injury.

“We’ll have to wait and see how he goes.”

The Reds have the bye next weekend, meaning the clash with the Japanese franchise is Kerevi’s last chance to push his Wallabies claims ahead of next month’s three-Test series against England.

Not that the bullocking 22-year-old centre is in any sort of doubt, after coach Michael Cheika again mentioned him and Reds teammate Karmichael Hunt as likely Wallaby selections on Thursday morning.

An extended Wallabies squad will gather in Caloundra, on the Sunshine Coast, for a camp on May 30 ahead of the first Test against England in Brisbane on June 11.

Hunt is also expected to be involved, and may yet become a crucial piece of the puzzle for Australia following Kurtley Beale’s injury and Israel Folau’s move to the centres for the NSW Waratahs.

The Reds rested Hunt last week in the hope his nagging groin strain would settle but the fullback won’t be taking on the Sunwolves.

“We thought that by resting him last week, it would give him best chance to be up for this week but he hasn’t come through and got through the work we would have liked,” O’Connor said.

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