YORK Wasps are poised to sign two Australian props as their build-up towards the new Rugby League Premiership season gathers pace.

Former Balmain Tigers star Chris St Clair, who now plays with St Gaudens Bears in the French Elite One division, and teenager Josh Hussay are set to put pen to paper early next month, both on one-year deals.

Neither player will impinge on the Wasps' overseas limitation as both have European passports, St Clair through his Italian parentage and Hussay through his Irish ancestry.

Indeed St Clair, 24, is a full Italian RL international. He made his name with Balmain before moving to Europe with St Gaudens, whose league is already underway. He played at half-back at the weekend, scoring a try in the Elite One 16-12 defeat by Pia.

Hussay, 18, played for Logan City in the Brisbane competition in Australia and has been noted as one for the future.

Wasps chief executive Ann Garvey said: "Both these players have come highly recommended to us. I have seen Chris St Clair play in France recently and he looked good.

"They agreed terms to come to York and when they fly into the country to join us around the first week in November they will be signing the contracts."

Updated: 12:05 Wednesday, October 17, 2001