MARK Cain has been ruled out for most of the season as a double injury blow rocks York City Knights' build-up to next Friday's big Powergen Challenge Cup tie at St Helens.

Utility star Cain, who turns 29 on Tuesday, will need an operation to rectify the shoulder tendon problem that has dogged him over the past month.

It is thought to be similar surgery to that undergone by Scott Rhodes late last year, which saw the half-back miss the start of this season, and leaves Cain with a race to get back before the end of the regular season in September.

And in another setback, Aussie ace Simon Friend has been beset by a broken finger, though he is determined not to miss the long-awaited fifth-round trip to Knowsley Road.

Cain, who has been mainly used in the back row but can play in a variety of positions, is due to go under the knife in the next fortnight. Coach Mick Cook said: "If he's back in three months he will have done well.

"We have cover at the moment but a couple of games down the line we could be scraping around again. He's been playing some good stuff and it's a blow to us, but we've got to take it on the chin and get on with it."

Second-rower Friend suffered his injury in last week's big win over Dewsbury but a broken finger does not necessarily rule a player out - team-mate John Smith has played through one recently - and Friend is hoping this weekend off will give him enough time to recover for Friday's big match.

"That's not a game you want to miss," said the 27-year-old.

"My hand is swollen and I can't do much with it at the moment, but I'm going back for an 'X'-ray next week and it should be okay."

A natural replacement for Friend should he fail to make it would be James Ward, but he is still sidelined by an infection in a knee, although Cook remains well blessed with back-rowers, with Darren Callaghan, the only ever-present this season, likely to be chomping at the bit to get back a starting role having been a substitute in the last two games.

In better news, goalkicking utility back Chris Ross is available again after his hamstring strain.

However, crocked winger Austin Buchanan's return from his long lay-off may have to be put on hold, depending on the results of an 'X'-ray on his broken arm and wrist next week.

Updated: 10:19 Saturday, April 30, 2005