THE Sportingbet Channel Islands Athletic Club may have to field an injury-depleted team at the weekend as its men and women both bid for promotion to the UK’s elite league. Coach Andrew Winnie has fitness worries over a number of his squad and is awaiting updates before naming his teams for Saturday’s British Athletics League qualifiers in Abingdon.

On the injury list are Guernsey’s 400m and 800m runner Tom Druce and Jersey hurdler Peter Irving, who are both definitely ruled out of the trip. Irving’s Spartan team mate Will Perchard is also doubtful after having picked up a suspected hamstring injury in last weekend’s inter-insular.

Among the notable absentees for the women will be CI 5,000m champion Louise Perrio and local sprinter Laura Arblaster, who are both unavailable.

There are also injury worries over middle distance runner Mart-ine Scholes and Jersey’s talented young thrower Lauren Therin.

However, Guernsey’s Dale Garland and Lee Merrien are both expected to compete.

The men and women will need to finish in the top two places in their matches to claim a place in their respective UK leagues next season.

It would represent a genuine step up in competition for the local athletes and Winnie said their chances would depend on a number of the team putting in top performances.

‘We would normally expect to lose maybe two people to injury, but this time we have eight who would have travelled and are doubtful.

‘I am still hoping that half of those injuries prove to be not too serious and should be OK. However, we are at the end of the season now and the athletes have come through a tough month of competition, culminating in the inter-insulars last week.

‘We have said all along that if our athletes turn up and perform anything like their best, then we have a very good chance.

‘To lose so many of our leading competitors would make that harder but it’s going to be down to the team on the day.’