Amateur rugby league players in York aiming to progress to the professional ranks will have the chance to make their mark on York Wasps coach Lee Crooks this weekend.

Crooks will turn talent scout to check out Heworth and New Earswick All Blacks in Silk Cut Challenge Cup action on Saturday.

He is planning to take in one half of each match - Heworth are at home to Featherstone Lions and New Earswick entertain Thatto Heath - as he seeks to bolster the Wasps squad.

Although he will be assessing the standard of two players in particular, Crooks revealed he would be casting his eye over all the talent on show.

"I have been told about a couple of players and I'm going to have a look at them but if anybody stands out it's a matter of asking them if they want to come on board and if they want to they are welcome to come down," explained Crooks, who also intends watching Acorn in the near future.

"I would like to think people's ambitions are to play professional rugby league. I'd like to develop the relationship between the professional club and the amateur clubs because I think they can work in hand."

In recent years York's National Conference League clubs have provided the Wasps with some of their brightest talent.

Darren Callaghan, now with Hull KR, and current Wasps first teamer Gareth Lloyd were both plucked from Acorn, York prop Craig Forsyth, young forward Adam Briggs and half-backs Paddy Handley made their mark with Heworth while Andy Precious and Wasps skipper Alan Pallister started their careers with the All Blacks, as did stand-off Mark Cain who is now at Dewsbury.

New Earswick second rower Lee McTigue and Acorn skipper Lee Frank have also flirted with professionalism at York over the last couple of seasons but are now back with their respective amateur clubs.

In addition to home-grown talent, Crooks is also planning to follow up tip-offs regarding a couple of amateur players currently starring for Hull teams.

With injuries already beginning to deplete the squad, Crooks is keen to bring in players as cover.

The Wasps chief has received a boost on the injury front as he prepares for the visit of his former club Keighley Cougars on Sunday.

Scrum-half Gareth Stephens is almost certain to return after missing both the opening games with a hamstring strain. Centre or second rower Darren Hughes, who limped off in the 2-0 defeat by Hull KR, sustained a leg injury but could recover in time for him to face Keighley.

dianne.hillaby@ycp.co.uk