GRIMSBY Town's 'lucky charm' Aswad Thomas should be fit to face Torquay United following a slight injury concern.
After recently returning from a fractured fibula, the left-back has been in fine form against Altrincham and Wrexham.
His boss Paul Hurst reported that the former Charlton Athletic man was suffering with a stiff groin earlier this week.
That saw the full-back miss Tuesday evening's Lincolnshire Senior Cup triumph – a match he would probably have been rested for anyway.
And Hurst is confident Thomas will be fit and available for the long trip to Devon.
"Aswad's groin was a little bit stiff, which is understandable," he told the Telegraph.
"He's just come back in and hasn't had the full training sessions with us as such – there's been a lot of hard work in the gym.
"He had a workout with Dave Moore (physio) again, rather than with the rest of the players. He'll be okay for Saturday, there's no doubt about that.
"It's not so much his actual injury that's the problem, but the length of time he was out and the fact he has just come back into the team.
"Realistically, he was probably thrown into 90 minutes work against Altrincham a little quicker than I would have liked.
"But it's credit to the work he's done with Dave, and to Dave as well.
"He works hard, he's a fit lad, and personally I wasn't too worried about him physically lasting for a large part of that first game."
Interestingly, the Mariners are yet to conceded a goal this season while Thomas has been on the pitch – that's three games and 15 minutes of action in total.
Hurst added: "Whether he's a good luck charm or it's just the fact he's a good player, I don't know but it helps! He certainly gives us that balance on the left-hand side of defence.
"There's still a slight bit of rustiness there, but that's understandable if you think of how much football he has actually played this season.
"He will get fitter still and stronger.
"And Aswad has already shown in the games he's come back in that he can be a threat going forward – as well as the strength he gives us defensively."
