LEIGH Centurions can be York's unlikely inspiration tomorrow as the Wasps aim to give the Challenge Cup giantkillers a taste of their own medicine.

Unbeaten NFP leaders Leigh come to Huntington Stadium on a hot run of form, having knocked Super League side Salford out of the cup and given Warrington Wolves a run for their money.

But rather than running scared, Wasps coach Lee Crooks believes Leigh's achievements should lift York's hopes of pulling off an upset of their own.

"You play this game to expect challenges and there's no bigger challenge than playing the best team in the NFP," said Crooks, who will give debuts to two trialists.

"The players have to go out there and rise to the challenge. If they do that then everyone's seen that in sport anything can happen, as Leigh proved against Salford and Warrington.

"West Hull went to Leigh in the third round of the cup and only got beat by 20 points so you never know what's going to happen."

The Wasps will have to do without injured trio Craig Forsyth (knee), Paddy Handley (hamstring) and Shaun Austerfield (knee and thigh). Into the side come newcomers Martin Hunt and Andy Hutchinson. Both are expected to make their debuts.

Crooks was also hoping to bring in one more new face to complete the 17.

Hunt will start the game at full-back, having joined the Wasps from their favourite breeding ground, amateur club Lock Lane. He played six games for Lancashire Lynx at the end of last season and Crooks said: "He will add a bit of pace to the back line which is something we lack."

Prop forward Hutchinson has no experience at NFP level but has played a high standard of amateur rugby with Beverley and Hull Dockers.

He will start on the bench with Dave Birdsall, who made his debut last week, taking Forsyth's place in the starting line-up. Gareth Oulton will take over from Handley at stand-off and Nathan Pincher replaces Austerfield.

The debutants will take the number of players used by the Wasps this season to a staggering 36 in just 12 league and cup games.

That is no fault of their own, as they have been left with no option following the departure of a large chunk of their original squad.

But the lack of a settled side, and the lack of players now attending training, is not helping the situation.

"Eleven players trained on Thursday and 12 on Tuesday," revealed Crooks. "Work commitments take precedent now which is frustrating. Technically we need to do a lot of work on the training field and we aren't able to.

"We seem to be running down a dark alley with no light at the end of the tunnel. That makes my job more difficult.

"I can understand the supporters' frustration. They won't watch a team that gets heavily beaten every week but I think they will come and watch a team that's committed.

"I have to get commitment through to the players."

Another couple of players from Hull have been training with York this week, including Luke Goodman, a York-based forward from Hull FC Academy.

However, Bransholme winger-cum-centre Chris Rhodes, who had been pencilled in to make his debut against Gateshead last week, has not been back in touch.

Leigh will be without former international prop Tim Street (broken thumb), Adam Bristow (concussion) and Andy Fairclough (ankle), while prop Dave

Bradbury is doubtful with 'flu.

Tomorrow's squads

Wasps: (from) Hunt, Rumford, Allen, Lloyd, Darling, Oulton, Waite, Hagan, Dobson, Birdsall, Gatus, Crake, Pincher, Moore, Mulholland, Hutchinson, AN Other.

Leigh: (from): Neil Turley, Alan Hadcroft, Paul Anderson, Phil Kendrick, David Ingram, Simon Svabic, Liam Bretherton, Dave Whittle, John Hamilton, Dave Bradbury, Simon Baldwin, Chris Morley, Willie Swann, Andy Leatham, John Duffy, Jamie Gass, Keiron Purtill.

Referee: Richard Silverwood (Mirfield) Kick-off: 3pm

Updated: 11:46 Saturday, March 03, 2001