Albion wait on fitness of hooker Owen

PLYMOUTH Albion are sweating on the fitness of hooker James Owen ahead of Saturday's tough trip to London Welsh.

Owen injured his neck during Albion's defeat to Bristol last weekend.

"James has not trained fully this week," said Albion chairman of rugby Graham Dawe. "He suffered a compression type injury against Bristol.

"We just have to see how he reacts over the next couple of days, but hopefully he should be all right."

Albion will definitely be without Canadian international lock Tyler Hotson for this weekend's trip to London.

Hotson (pictured right) is away on international duty for the next three weeks.

The powerful lock has started every one of Albion's 10 league games so far.

"Tyler has been running our line-out and he has been playing well of late," said Dawe. "He has been showing some good form."

Hotson's place is likely to be taken by Tom Skelding. Skelding has made five starts this season since moving to Albion in the summer.

But there will be a place on the bench available.

Flanker Darren Clayton could come back into the squad after being given the go-ahead to return to action, with Wayne Sprangle covering second-row.

Alternatively, James Waterhouse, Jamie Tripcony or Dan Collier could join the squad.

Collier has been on-loan at Bridgwater, but Albion are considering recalling him during Hotson's absence.

"We have got a few second-row options," said Dawe. "We will probably make a decision later today.

"We could bring Jamie Tripcony, James Waterhouse or Dan Collier into the squad or go with Wayne Sprangle covering second-row. He covered there against Coventry and did it well last year."

Dawe added it was a 'possibility' that Collier could be recalled from Bridgwater.

Centre Matt Hopper could also be back in contention for the trip to Old Deer Park after another week's training.

However, Albion may opt to give Hopper, who has not started a match since April, a full game in their development team who are playing away to London Scottish on Saturday.

ALBION forwards Sean-Michael Stephen and Danny Porte came on as replacements for the Barbarians in their narrow 22-19 defeat to the Combined Services at Aldershot last night.

Canadian international flanker Stephen came on late in the first half, while prop Danny Porte took to the field with eight minutes to go.

The Barbarians had been 22-7 down with just six minutes to go.