Paleaaesina to Play As Trial Looms

Wigan's prop Iafeta Paleaaesina will play for the first 12 rounds of the Super League season, starting at Harlequins on Saturday, with a court case hanging over him, after April 28 was set yesterday as the date for his trial on a charge of breaking the jaw of a bus driver.

The 25-year-old Samoan, who joined Wigan from the New Zealand Warriors two years ago, is accused of inflicting grievous bodily harm on James Campbell at Wigan North Western railway station early on October 6 last year, hours after a defeat at Leeds in the Super League play-offs. He pleaded not guilty at a plea and directions hearing at Liverpool Crown Court.

He will be included in the 20-man squad Wigan must name tomorrow for their opening fixture of the season at the Stoop, with club officials insisting they would be standing by him until his trial.

Wigan's coach, Brian Noble, hopes to have all his props available for selection against Harlequins after the Rugby League decided to take no further action against the Ireland international Eamon O'Carroll over an allegation of biting in a pre-season friendly at Widnes, although Stuart Fielden is racing against time to recover from a shoulder injury.

Noble will be without the England wing Mark Calderwood, who broke a leg in the play-off defeat at Leeds in October, and Karl Pryce, the winter rugby union recruit from Gloucester who has a persistent foot problem.