Mortlock cleared for Sharks clash

Brumbies captain Stirling Mortlock will be fit for the crunch Super 14 clash with the Sharks on Saturday despite having suffered a concussion in his team's hard-fought 16-11 victory over the Blues over the weekend.

Brumbies captain Stirling Mortlock will be fit for the crunch Super 14 clash with the Sharks on Saturday despite having suffered a concussion in his team's hard-fought 16-11 victory over the Blues over the weekend.

Mortlock left the field in the second-half after his head collided with the knee of opposition hooker Keven Mealamu.

In a massive boost for the Brumbies, coach Laurie Fisher declared that Mortlock was “fine” and would be available to play this weekend.

“He's pulled up fine today,” Fisher told the Canberra times.

“There are no ill effects. He didn't even take a Panadol.”

The Brumbies hard-man was in fine form against the Blues and his attacking vision in midfield will be as valuable as his outstanding leadership for the Canberra side as they face a the unbeaten Sharks in a must-win game if they hope to reach the semi-finals.

The Sharks escaped with a narrow win over the Highlanders on Friday and sit second on the table behind the Crusaders while the Brumbies are ninth.

The Brumbies should also be able to count on Saturday's man of the match, number eight Julian Salvi, as they ride a wave of confidence.

“It was definitely a confidence booster,” said Salvi of the win over the Blues.

“To get this one on the road and especially seeing as though we haven't had much luck here for a while was really good for us.

“We analysed the Blues' game so well we knew they would come at us physically and they did.

“Now we need to do at home this weekend what we did away [on Saturday].”