Speed demons Alex Godfrey and Austin Buchanan are both in the squad for Sunday's York City Knights clash against Gateshead Thunder at Huntington Stadium.

Godfrey has been missing since the Hunslet Hawks match on Easter Monday after pulling a hamstring and is finally ready for a return after weeks nursing the injury.

His name will be added to an unchanged Knights 18 from the Barrow match two weeks ago along with Knights new boy Buchanan.

The 19-year-old winger is a recognised hot prospect for the future having climbed up through the ranks at Leeds Rhinos, and last year he earned his first taste of the Super League during a loan spell at London Broncos.

He inked a deal shortly after the Barrow game to keep him at Huntington Stadium until the end of season to gain some much needed first-team experience and head coach Richard Agar says he cannot wait to see his debut tomorrow.

"I'm looking forward to seeing Austin play," he said. "He's looked good in training and I've seen him play before so it will be great to see him in a Knights shirt.

"He's good on his feet, he's strong and he's a quality player - probably similar in style to Alex Godfrey although a little bit bigger. I'm excited that he's signed for us."

Combined with Godfrey's pace, the pair could prove a formidable obstacle for opposition defenders in the coming weeks, with Godfrey now fit enough for inclusion in the squad of 19.

That will be another highlight for Agar. Said the coach: "I will be glad to have Alex back because in my view, he's probably the outstanding winger in the competition and his strike rate this year has been exceptionally good.

"It would be a disservice to the guys that have stood in for him to say that we have missed him. Mark Stewart and Stuart Walker have both been excellent. But Alex is a quality player and one of the best there is."

On the down side, though, it will be the last time out for young Aussie Mark Stewart, who has been forced to return to his homeland for financial reasons.

But he will get a farewell run-out in front of the home fans tomorrow.

Said Agar: "It will be the last game for Mark, which is sad for him because he's done a marvellous job for us and he's a really popular guy in the changing room.

"But we understand why he has to go, and he will certainly feature at some point."

Agar will be calling on a tough defensive stance to overcome the Thunder having conceded a lot in the two high-scoring Arriva Trains Cup fixtures which ended 24-56 and 54-26 in the Knights' favour.

He said: "I think we have to worry about ourselves.

"Gateshead played quite well against us twice and we probably let them score a few too many points.

"But our defence in the last few games has been pretty good so we have to just worry about ourselves and hopefully get the two points."

Knights from: Graham, Walker, Langley, Callaghan, Buchanan, Rhodes, Brough, Wilson, Jackson, Sozi, Ramsden, Friend, Ball, Elston, Cain, John Smith, Forsyth, Godfrey, Stewart.

Updated: 10:08 Saturday, May 22, 2004