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Burton stakes late claim for squad place

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Nazvi Careem

STEVE Burton will make a last-ditch bid to prove his fitness for the territory's Hongkong Sevens squad.

Burton, Hongkong's skipper at last year's Asian Championship, was two weeks ago selected for a 10-man squad to compete in the Hongkong Sevens from March 27-28.

But a serious illness, which put him in hospital for several days, forced the Tigers number eight to miss last week's Canberra Sevens and almost certainly rules him out of the Hongkong event.

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Club full-back Justin Weston has been drafted in, but Burton said he will train on Monday.

''I'm still recovering,'' said Burton, who suffered from a blood infection. ''At the moment I'm a bit off-balance because of an infection to my ear. Apart from that I feel fine. I've lost a stone, so I don't know how I'll react on Monday.

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''But I'll give it one last go. I'm still hoping for the Hongkong Sevens. But if that doesn't happen then I will aim for the World Cup.'' Burton was unable to attend last night's training session at Aberdeen Sports Ground and will also miss tomorrow's workout at Happy Valley.

National coach George Simpkin, must decide on Monday whether to keep Burton in his 10.

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