Burke is worry for Harlequins

Harlequins could be without Ireland outside-half Paul Burke for Sunday's European Shield semi-final with Newcastle if the match goes ahead.

As reported in Standard Sport yesterday, chief executive Mark Evans is threatening to pull injury-hit Quins out of the semi-final in Leeds following the decision by the tournament's organisers not to allow hooker Johnny Rodham to play.

The club have lost three front-line hookers and, after losing their appeal for Rodham to be registered for the competition, they will decide on Friday whether to forfeit the game.

Should they decide to play, Burke faces a battle to make the starting line-up after damaging his hand during Saturday's league defeat at Leicester.

He has been Quins' main source of points this season and almost steered the club to Tetley's Bitter Cup triumph in the Final against Newcastle, who eventually won at Twickenham thanks to a controversial late try.

The club fear he may have broken a bone in his hand but Burke is is prepared to deal with the pain to help push Quins closer to the coveted automatic qualification place for next season's Heineken Cup, available to next month's Shield Final winners.