York City Knights will probably be without Aaron Wood for Saturday's big Powergen Challenge Cup clash at Sheffield after the Aussie centre suffered a bizarre injury in bed at home.

The 25-year-old trapped a nerve in his neck while sleeping, which has restricted the player's movement.

This blow could leave coach Richard Agar with just 17 fit men for the vital fourth round trip to South Yorkshire if centre Chris Langley and loose-forward Damian Ball fail late fitness tests on their respective leg and back injuries.

Agar is set to leave it late before deciding his line-up, giving the duo - and Wood (pictured above) should he make a quick recovery - every chance of being available.

In addition to long-term absentees Rob Kama, Joe Helme, Danny Seal and Neil Mears, Agar is also without injured new signing Tom Andrews and on-loan prop Ryan Benjefield as both are cup-tied, while unhappy centre Damien Reid is also not included - a sign that the former Gateshead flier's future lies elsewhere from Huntington Stadium.

However, utility star Mark Cain will be one of the players to return having overcome the knee injury which kept him out last week, while forward John Smith and winger Scott Walker are also in contention along with Aussie three-quarter Mark Stewart, who could make his first appearance of the year.

Agar told the Evening Press: "I have every confidence in them - every player we've got is capable of playing first-team rugby and I'm not losing too much sleep about it."

Updated: 10:09 Saturday, February 28, 2004