FORMER Wales flier Chris Smith may yet rejoin York City Knights for the forthcoming season.

The Cawood-based full-back, who has spent the last two seasons at Huntington Stadium, is still to put pen to paper for any club this year and neither the player nor the Knights have yet ruled out a return.

However, the 29-year-old - who has suffered his fair share of injuries which have restricted him to just 13 games since June 2003 - is unlikely to sign for anyone until he comes through an operation on his long-standing groin adductor muscle problem.

The former Hull and St Helens Super League star, who attended the Knights' pre-season friendly against Doncaster on Sunday, is due to go under the knife next month and, if all goes well, would be okay to resume training in March.

Knights chief executive Steve Ferres said: He's going for an operation and we'll see how it goes from there. He'll speak to us if and when he's come through that.

"We would be interested in him if he's interested in coming back. We'd have to speak to (head coach) Mick Cook and take it from there."

Meanwhile, the Knights came through the Doncaster match predominantly unscathed.

Neil Thorman suffered a calf strain and hasn't trained this week while Chris Ross suffered a back problem, but neither injury is considered serious and both should be available for next Wednesday's friendly at Hull. Broken hand victim Ian Kirke is back training and, while he is yet to do contact work, he was hoping to also be available for the trip to the KC Stadium.

Of that match, which is the Knights' final friendly before they kick off their season with the big Northern Rail Cup group match at former Super League club Castleford on February 13, Ferres said: "We're all looking forward to going to the KC.

"Hull have started their pre-season with two big wins using few first-team players.

"They may well put a stronger team out against us than they did against Featherstone at the weekend (when they won 44-10). It's a great test for our players and one we will relish."

That Hull team could include big new signings Nathan Blacklock, Stephen Kearney and Motu Tony, as well as former Knights favourite Danny Brough.

Ferres added: "They (Hull) are doing warm-weather training in Spain, they've got fantastic preparation, and our guys are looking forward to competing with them."

Updated: 10:31 Thursday, January 20, 2005