Adamson stakes final hopes on late test

Matt Adamson is hoping to defy medical probability by playing for Leeds in the Challenge Cup final in Cardiff on Saturday, just two weeks after fracturing his jaw and cheekbone in the semi-final.

The Australian second-row forward was assumed to have no chance of making the final after suffering the injury in the opening minutes at Huddersfield and then having three plates inserted in his face.

"It's an eight-week injury and if it wasn't a final there's no way I'd be playing,'' admitted Adamson. "I'm desperate to play, but you've got to think of your health and your livelihood, so I'll go along with what the medical people say.''

The Leeds coach, Daryl Powell, will give Adamson until the morning of the match for a late fitness test. "He's still pretty sore and we'll have to see if that lessens,'' said Powell. "It's going to be difficult for him to play with that injury and I probably put the odds at about 60-40 against.''

Powell is much more optimistic about his other major casualty, the hooker, Matt Diskin, who was carried off with a knee injury at Castleford last Thursday. "He trained today and had to have ice on the knee afterwards, but I'm hopeful he'll be OK,'' he said.

Powell is not entirely convinced that Bradford's Stuart Fielden will miss the final, even though the Great Britain prop has been officially ruled out with a torn knee ligament.

"He's a top-quality forward, probably be best front rower in the country, and they'll be disappointed if he doesn't play, but they've got plenty of cover,'' said Powell. "He looked in a lot of pain but you never know, because Brian Noble plays a few mind games.''

Fielden has been ordered to attend a Rugby League hearing today over his tendency to lift his knees into tacklers when he carries the ball. Richard Moore, his likely stand-in for Cardiff, who was placed on report for a similar offence against Hull on Friday, has been sent a letter about his running style, but is clear of the threat of suspension for the final.