PLYMOUTH Albion are sweating on the fitness of Australian centre Marc Koteczky ahead of Saturday’s away trip to Wharfedale.

The experienced Koteczky has been troubled by a back spasm since Albion’s win over Ampthill last weekend.

“Marc’s back has gone into spasm and it is a worry,” said Plymouth’s director of rugby Graham Dawe.

“At the moment he’s 50-50 to make Saturday’s game.”

Dawe also gives top points scorer Tom Putt the same odds of featuring at Wharfeside Avenue.

Putt, 18, has missed Albion’s last two matches due to a foot injury.

“Tom has run a little,” said Dawe. “But we’ll just have to wait and see.

“We probably won’t make any decisions until Thursday evening.”

The better news for Dawe is that fly-half Elliot Bale has returned to training after having an injection in his knee and could be in contention to feature this weekend.

Albion will be making their first trip to Wharfedale for 14 years.

Plymouth’s recording breaking National League run of 41 consecutive league wins famously came to an end there when Wharfedale won 28-20 on the corresponding weekend in 2001.

Albion were captained that day by Danny Thomas, who skippered the club to two successive promotions, and he will join the team in North Yorkshire this weekend.

Thomas, who stepped down as Chippenham’s head coach in the summer, has agreed to help Albion out on odd away games when other members of the coaching staff are unavailable, just to give Dawe and extra pair of hands.

“Danny’s accepted to come with us this week because Lee Jago’s unable to travel,” said Dawe.

“Danny’s going to be our conditioner for the trip, just to get the guys in a good state of mind and body coming off the bench, if they are required.

“We have to make sure those guys are ready to go, that they’re warmed up and Danny said he would perform that role.”