YORK Wasps coach Leo Epifania may have to turn to the club's Academy players to pull them through their crippling injury crisis.

The Wasps had just the bare minimum of 17 players fit for Sunday's 60-4 thumping by Workington, but that defeat saw two more players facing spells on the sidelines.

Winger Leigh Deakin and hooker-cum-loose-forward Peter Edwards both picked up injuries in the game to see them joining full-back Jamie Benn, loose forward Rob Lee and centre Shaun Austerfield in the treatment room.

And with another must-win game at Huntington Stadium to come on Sunday - Gateshead Thunder are set to make the trip - Epifania could have little option but to name kids in the squad.

Epifania told the Evening Press: "On Sunday I was down to my last man standing.

"I could have to start digging into the Academy this week.

"I will have to see how things go at training tonight, but if the players aren't fit then I have got little option but to draft in ones from the Academy."

Edwards injured his hamstring in the warm-up before the Workington game, but despite not being 100 per cent, the Kiwi still soldiered on.

However, his bravery in the face of adversity could force him on to the sidelines for the crunch tie against the Thunder - a match Wasps' fans will be expecting their side to win.

Deakin also has a hamstring injury, which forced him to limp from the fray.

Updated: 11:23 Tuesday, March 19, 2002