Crusaders v Reds: Teams

Crusaders and Salford get Sunday's action at Magic Weekend underway with a showdown at high noon in Cardiff.

Iestyn Harris will be in charge of Crusaders in a competitive fixture for the first time after taking over the top job following the departure of Brian Noble.

The Welsh club finished eighth last season to reach the play-offs but start the new campaign on minus four points having entered administration during another turbulent winter.

Now they will be glad to get down to action, although Frank Winterstein, Rhys Hanbury and new recruit Hep Cahill are stranded by red tape in Australia.

Trio available

Captain Clinton Schifcofske and centres Tony Martin and Vince Mellars have at least recovered from post-season operations to be available.

Gareth Thomas is also included in Harris' 19-man squad after overcoming a groin injury, while Australian prop Adam Peek has shaken off illness.

Meanwhile, Wales international Rhys Williams looks set to make his Crusaders debut on the wing after joining on a month-long loan deal from Super League rivals Warrington.

"Things have gone really good this week," Harris said. "We have trained really well and there has been a gradual lift in the intensity in the lead up to the weekend.

"The steady build up will continue up until Sunday and hopefully it will pay dividends against Salford.

"We've got everybody who we expected to be on board and it's great to have Rhys (Williams) joining us for certainly the first month and hopefully a lot longer.

"His arrival puts a bit of pressure on a few other people and when we have a full squad available there is going to be some serious competition for places in the 17."

New-look Reds

Salford could hand debuts to as many as seven of their winter recruits this weekend.

Australian Luke Patten, the most high-profile name to arrive during a busy off-season for coach Shaun McRae, looks certain to start at full-back.

Fellow new boys Stephen Wild, Chris Nero, Wayne Godwin, Sean Gleeson, Iafeta Paleaessina and Vinnie Anderson are also included in their 19-man party.

Phil Bailey, another signing by McRae, will have to wait for his chance, however, as he's sidelined through injury.

Salford, who will be hoping to push for the play-offs in 2011, are also without front-row pair Ryan Boyle and Ray Cashmere because of suspension.

Crusaders squad: Schifcofske, Thomas, Martin, Mellars, Reardon, Witt, Sammut, O'Hara, Withers, Bryant, Chan, Peek, James, Flower, Dudson, Johnson, Moore, Lupton, R. Williams.

Salford squad: Patten, Broughton, Henry, Nero, Gibson, Ratchford, Holdsworth, Neal, Godwin, Jewitt, Anderson, L. Adamson, Wild, M. Smith, Sneyd, Parker, Paleaaesina, Sidlow, Gleeson.