York Wasps have launched a double swoop on Super League to land two up-and-coming prospects.

Scrum-half Danny Waite and prop Charles Hoggard both signed triallist forms last night and could be thrust straight in at the deep end for Sunday's trip to NFP champions Dewsbury Rams.

Wasps' coach Lee Crooks confirmed: "Depending on the situation with injuries they might come into contention."

Waite, 21, joins York from Castleford Tigers where he has been unable to hold down a regular place in their Alliance team.

His major asset is his kicking game which Crooks sees as a key factor.

"He is a nice footballer, has a good kicking game and also kicks goals," said Crooks, who coached Waite at Castleford Academy.

"Other than Jamie Benn we lack someone with a good kicking game and that has been influential in my decision to sign him.

"He has been playing on and off in Castleford's Alliance. He's not had much opportunity and was suffering last year with injuries.

"He is looking for an opportunity to play at a higher level and we're able to give him that."

Scarborough-based Hoggard, 20, played for York Academy two years ago before joining Hull FC last season where he featured in their Academy and Alliance teams.

Crooks said: "Because he's come from a Super League club and been coached by Steve Crooks (Hull Academy coach) he'll have some sort of ability.

"We'll see how he goes in training but we're short in numbers, particularly in the prop position, so we may have to throw him in."

York's injury problems have eased somewhat from last week when they had only 16 fit players - plus kit man Steve Harris - for the trip to Batley.

Scrum half Gareth Stephens is in contention to make his first appearance of the season, Shaun Austerfield and Andy Hill could return after a two-week lay-off while Gareth Lloyd is fit again after a bout of flu.

However, they have been hit by fresh injury concerns.

Hookers Gareth Dobson and Alan Pallister both have groin strains and Paddy Handley is suffering from a bad back, though Crooks is hopeful all three will come through.

The Wasps will need their strongest team for the daunting trip to Ram Stadium.

Neil Kelly's men won the NFP Grand Final, finished top of the division and landed the Trans-Pennine Cup last season. They have started off in a similar vein of form this term with their only slip-up so far being a 32-6 defeat at Keighley.

They are seen as potential championship contenders once again but Crooks is remaining optimistic that the Wasps could achieve their first win of the season.

"They have players with Super League experience and players looking to gain Super League experience so they have got a strong squad.

"But like any game we go into I'm optimistic we can win. The injuries over the Christmas period have meant we have had to throw people in that we normally wouldn't at this stage of the season and we've come out with a draw and narrow defeat."

Mark Cain could be in line to make his first appearance of the season against his former club - in the unfamiliar role of hooker.

Cain has been limited to just one substitute appearance so far due to the form of first choice half-backs Richard Agar and Barry Eaton.

But star hooker Richard Pachniuk, a close season buy from Keighley, hurt a knee in last week's 34-2 win at Hunslet so is rested.

Cain replaced Pachniuk in that match and coach Neil Kelly said: "I have several permutations I can use, with either Mark Cain or even Barry Eaton going at No 9."

Also in the Rams ranks are former Wasps duo Damian Ball and Alex Godfrey, along with York-based centre Dan Potter.

Updated: 10:24 Saturday, January 06, 2001