YORK City Knights have received a blow ahead of Sunday's crucial game at Swinton with the news that new signing Dean Andrews has suffered a groin injury.

The former Hull KR second-row, who has impressed in a Knights shirt after joining the club a fortnight ago, is rated very doubtful for Sunday's four-pointer, and it is feared he could be out for the season with a hernia problem, although there are hopes he has suffered only a strain.

He has been referred to see a specialist though no date for his check-up has been confirmed.

Knights chief executive Steve Ferres said: "He actually suffered it against Barrow two weeks ago but did not realise the extent of the problem and played against Gateshead (last week).

"It depends what the injury is and at this stage we don't know. The worst case scenario is he could be out for six weeks, but then again it could be a strain and he'd be back in a week or two. We will know more when he sees the specialist."

Ferres added: "It's obviously a blow at this stage to both him and the team but it's one of those things.

"Hopefully with a bit of luck it won't be as bad as first feared, and on a positive note, Mick Ramsden is back from injury and is coming into form and John Smith, I think, has had his best two games for the club in the last two weeks, so we've got good competition for places in that area."

Aussie battler Simon Friend is also expected to be fit again after missing the last two games and could be straight swap for Andrews in the back row.

Updated: 11:10 Friday, August 13, 2004