Unfit Withers cannot ride to Britain's rescue

Great Britain have been deprived of one of the few realistic options for changing their team for the final Guinness Test at Wigan this Saturday.

Michael Withers, the Australian-born utility back controversially called up for the series, but ignored for the first two Tests, aggravated a groin injury in training and has been ruled out of the third and deciding match.

"It would have been impossible for me to play in the third Test," said the Bradford player. "The injury has just flared up again."

The Great Britain manager, Phil Clarke, hinted that Withers might well have been involved in the decider, either as a replacement if Kris Radlinski is not fit to play full-back, or as a fresh pair of legs in the three-quarters.

"He is a great player with a wonderful track record in Super League, but we couldn't take any risk with his long-term fitness," said Clarke, who denied any suggestions that there were problem over Withers' eligibility for Great Britain via his Irish-born grandparents.

"There is documentation to prove that," Clarke said, adding that the squad was hopeful that Radlinski would be fit despite straining a stomach muscle in the 40-12 Test defeat at Bolton. "His attitude towards injury is perhaps the best of any player I've ever seen and he is giving himself the best possible chance of being fit."

Clarke said he did not anticipate many changes, especially with an injury-hit squad – now comprising 22 players – missing the likes of Kieron Cunningham, Terry Newton, Sean Long and Adrian Morley, but he was confident the players were ready to bounce back from their comprehensive defeat at the Reebok Stadium. He said: "We've not got a big squad so we can't make many changes.

"The players been through the video and seen what they've done wrong. They've seen the ways they can put things right and that's what they're all working on.

"It was a heavy defeat but the players have recognised what they did wrong and the tries they scored late in the game was evidence that, if we move the ball wide, we can score some tries against Australia.

"We've got to play like we did in the first game. Think about the kick-chases when there was a wave of white jerseys down on them, surrounding Darren Lockyer and forcing Lote Tuqiri into his in-goal area."

Australia have delayed naming their side until tomorrow because of fitness doubts over Ben Kennedy (broken left hand) and Tuqiri (knee). Winger Adam MacDougall (ankle) and prop Jason Ryles (dead leg) missed training yesterday, but are expected to be fit.

There will be more Anglo-Australian competition in the New Year with confirmation that the Super League champions, Bradford, are due to meet the Australian champions, the Newcastle Knights, at the McAlpine Stadium in Huddersfield on 1 February.