FANS' favourite Tim Street is back in action and eager to make up for lost time.

Prop Street should have started his comeback in the Alliance team on Wednesday after sitting out the last five weeks with a broken thumb. But that game was postponed, forcing Street to go straight back into the 17 for Sunday's trip to NFP strugglers Hunslet Hawks without match preparation.

Street fractured his thumb in the Challenge Cup defeat at Warrington and during his lay-off has been a frustrated spectator.

"Timmy's been champing at the bit to get back into action, especially now that it's over a week since he had the plaster cast off," reports head coach Paul Terzis. "While he's been out he's been able to do the majority of his fitness work - but what he needs now is games. That's why it would have been ideal for him to play in the Alliance - but he'll still figure on Sunday.

But while the news on Street is encouraging, it's not so bright regarding the fitness of both Andy Fairclough and Kieron Purtill.

Joint skipper Fairclough is facing another couple of weeks out after limping off at Keighley with a calf strain. "It's particularly frustrating for Andy as he was in his first senior game back after ankle ligament damage. He had a bit of trouble with the calf muscles during the week prior to the Keighley game, but unfortunately it went during the game.

"It's not a serious problem and we've identified what has caused it. I expect he'll be ready for at least one of the Easter games."

But half-back Kieron Purtill, who's season has been dogged by injury, faces the prospect of another lengthy lay-off because of a recurrence of shoulder trouble.

Terzis revealed that his club captain had never been completely pain free since he had corrective surgery on the shoulder in the close season. Purtill has seen a specialist but further surgery has been ruled out at this stage.

"Kieron's in constant pain every time he plays and there is restricted movement in his shoulder. It looks like the muscles have been tightened too much and one way to correct the problem is an intensive course of stretching exercises and physio over the next month or so."

Prop Jamie Gass is another with a damaged shoulder. He was hurt in the Alliance game at Keighley last week and will be out for two or three weeks.

Terzis again intends rotating his squad for Sunday's visit to South Leeds Stadium.

Dave Bradbury (dead leg), John Hamilton (shoulder) and Andy Leathem (thumb) have all been under treatment since the bruising win at Keighley. "They are all minor injuries and we'll re-assess day by day," adds Terzis.

Hunslet should provided the Centurions with their 14th win in 15 games without too much bother but Terzis sees it as an ideal opportunity for the fringe players in his squad to press their claims for the tougher challenges that lie ahead.

"After Sunday we've got a run of three games in nine days starting with Widnes on Good Friday. Forty-eight hours later we go to Swinton and then the following week its another big one against Dewsbury. Every player wants to play in the big games so the Hunslet match will be a chance for some of them to stake their claims.

"From next week until the end of the season all team selections will be based on form and fitness. There won't be changes for changes sake."