YORK City Knights will lose two top players this weekend as they say farewell to try-scoring sensation Neil Law while full-back Jonny Woodcock is due to return to Doncaster Dragons.

The departures are set to leave big holes in the Knights line-up, though chief executive Steve Ferres was hoping to wheel and deal again to fill the gaps.

The Knights were awaiting late confirmation that 21-year-old Woodcock would be available for tomorrow's game at home to Barrow Raiders as his one-month loan deal from the Dragons draws to a close this weekend.

They were naturally hoping that last year's Northern Ford Premiership young player of the year would play, though any hopes that he would be able to stay at Huntington Stadium for the rest of the season are looking unlikely.

Knights chief executive Steve Ferres said: "We're thankful to Doncaster for allowing him to come here. He's got his fitness back and has played well for us.

"We are hoping he will play at the weekend and as it stands he will then go back to Doncaster with our good wishes for the future."

He added: If at some stage we had the opportunity to take him on again we would be a fool to say no because he's done a good job."

Law, meanwhile, leaves the Knights after tomorrow's game as he then returns to Otley RUFC ahead of their season.

The bulldozing former Wakefield Trinity centre, who has scored 11 tries in his 11 games for the club, joined the Knights in rugby union's close season but he was always contracted to go back to the 15-a-side club after 12 games for York.

Ferres said: "I would like to thank (Otley coach) Peter Clegg for allowing us to have Neil Law, who has done a great job for us. He was contracted to Otley so has to go back but we're grateful for what Otley have done and for the way Neil has performed in his time here."

Updated: 09:39 Saturday, August 09, 2003