Reilly ready for former club test

PAUL Reilly can't wait to get involved in the action against his old club Huddersfield on Friday night — but admits he doesn't have much idea about his new team-mates just yet.

The tough 32-year-old full-back, wing or centre will turn out for Oldham for the first time at Boundary Park against the Super League side which granted him a testimonial year in 2006.

Reilly's decade with his home-town club was brought to an end following a move to local rivals Wakefield last season. That spell was hampered by a serious spinal injury from which he is now recovered.

But while injuries aren't a problem at present, the former Moldgreen amateur star admits that the fact Oldham have barely had a chance to do on-field ball work in recent weeks, due to frost, could be.

"In truth it is likely to be the case," admitted Reilly, who is relishing lining up alongside former team-mate and close friend Marcus St Hilaire once again.

"We haven't even had a handful of training sessions on grass, though luckily we are on astroturf at the moment and should have couple of good sessions under our belts by Friday.

"The difficult thing now will be fitting in everything that Tony Benson wants to do into the sessions before the game. So in general while we want to do well, it is a case of getting to know each other's game out on the pitch.

"If we end up getting a bad result we shouldn't take it to heart. I don't know many of our own players' abilities yet and it is a case of learning about weaknesses and strengths, not only in the opposition but also in ourselves.

"After a couple of friendlies we will hopefully be where we want to be and from there we can go on and have a great season and win promotion."

Reilly conceded that in an ideal world he and the rest of the Oldham squad would be busy preparing to pit themselves against Huddersfield's first-choice line-up. Instead, the visitors' side is likely to be made up mainly of academy men.

"It is a bit of a shame that a lot of the players we'll be up against will be from the second team," he added.

"That is because Huddersfield play against Castleford on Sunday (January 18). It would have been nice to have their full team run out, as it would let us know where we are at in relation to a Super League club.

"At the same time they will have players out there like Tom Hemingway, who hasn't really reached the heights in the game that he could have, plus others who are on the brink of the first team who have something to prove."

As for which position Reilly is likely to take up this year, it appears that Benson has him earmarked for a role either at centre or on the wing.

"I was asked what side I would prefer — which I am guessing means not at full-back!" Reilly added.

"I am not bothered. As long as I am playing I will play anywhere, especially after the bad season I had last year with injuries. It will be good to get rid of the cobwebs.

"I am feeling alright, fitness-wise. It will be good to get back out on the pitch and with it being my first game for Oldham, I am looking forward to pulling on the shirt for the first time."