Wighton gets early shot to press claims

Boom Canberra Raiders youngster Jack Wighton has been handed an unexpected early chance to press his claims after centre Jarrod Croker was ruled out of Saturday's trial against Melbourne.

Croker is battling a knee injury and is the only first-team regular missing from a 30-man squad named by coach David Furner yesterday.

However, Storm will field an understrength side minus its ''big three'' Cooper Cronk (rested), Billy Slater (collarbone) and Cameron Smith (shoulder).

Rated at the club as a star in the making Wighton, 19, will replace Croker at left centre for the Albury trial. The former Australian Schoolboy is equally adept at five-eighth, and has represented NSW under-20s the last two years.

''Jack trained out there yesterday, and he'll certainly get some game time in that left centre position,'' Furner said.

''I think Croker will be right to go for the second trial [against Canterbury at Wagga Wagga on February 18].

''If it was in season you'd be giving him until the captaincy run, but we're not in the situation where we need to risk him.''

While David Shillington was named, the front-rower remains in doubt with an infected elbow. He has not participated in contact sessions at training for the past fortnight, and will be given until later this week to prove his fitness.

''He'll travel with the squad and we'll make a decision later on,'' Furner said.

''There's an infection in his elbow but it's not a major one, and if it settles down he'll play.''

The Raiders All Stars representatives Josh Dugan, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Travis Waddell and Joel Thompson all escaped injury and will play.

Dugan suffered a leg injury in a trial last year against the Bulldogs, and missed a handful of early season games as a result.

But Furner has no qualms thrusting him into battle against the Storm, describing it as a ''necessary evil''.

''You look at the All Stars game where [Greg] Inglis picks up an injury ... you can't go into trials thinking about that,'' Furner said.

''I spoke to Duges this morning [yesterday], and he's really keen.''