NEW dad Waine Pryce is hoping to overcome his injury nightmare – and a few sleepless nights – this evening as he steps up his bid to return at long last to York City Knights’ first team.

The former Super League winger is in the Knights’ reserves side that will take on their Featherstone counterparts at Huntington Stadium tonight (8pm) – where he is likely to be joined by fit-again prop Jack Stearman and two trialists from Selby Warriors in Ben Harris and prolific try-scorer Wayne Fennell.

The 30-year-old Pryce is back in action after enduring more than three months on the sidelines due to a quad injury sustained when scoring his second try for the club in his second outing since his notable off-season switch from Hunslet.

He is now hoping to come through well enough to earn an immediate recall to the first team for Sunday’s Co-operative Championship visit of Swinton – coincidentally the opposition when he suffered his injury.

“It’s been about 14 weeks, and it’s been so frustrating – it’s even worse when the team is losing,” said the former England international, having watched the club go nine consecutive league games without a win.

“It was a partial rupture. I could have been out for the season if it was a full rupture – half a season is long enough.

“I feel pretty good now. I’ve been in full training for three weeks and my body is pretty conditioned to bumps and bruises. Fingers crossed everything will go okay (tonight) and I can win selection for Swinton.”

As for the team’s form, he said: “We’re nearly there. We’ve let some leads slip and let games go away from us. I’m hoping in the second half of the season we can turn it around. We know we’re not that far off. There are teams we can beat and I’m sure we can pick up wins.”

He added: “As a winger scoring tries is your purpose in the team, and hopefully I can continue where I left off before injury, and help the team to climb the league.

“Apart from the injury, I’ve enjoyed it at York. The coaches and the boys at the club have welcomed me and it’s been pretty good. Hopefully I can help out on the pitch.”

Pryce, already father to three-year-old son Rudi, became a dad again three weeks ago when his wife, Hayley, gave birth to daughter Aria.

He added: “There have been a few sleepless nights, but that’s part and parcel of having a new-born. Hopefully all the family will be there on Sunday cheering us on.”

Stearman, meanwhile, is hoping to pass a fitness test on his hamstring to resume his push for a first-team place, having been out for a month.

Three-quarter Harris, a former York College and Knights scholarship player, has returned to York after a spell in Featherstone’s youth system, while half-back/full-back Fennell, above, now in his late 20s, is looking to test himself at a higher level after several years of starring for Selby Warriors in the Pennine League.

The Knights have hospitality boxes for Sunday’s match at a reduced price. For details, phone the club on 01904 767404.

Knights reserves (provisional): Dent, Baxter, Silburn, Law, Pryce, Craig, Carmody, Stearman, Brining, Hemmings, Sutton, Barber, Caddie. Subs: Harris, Fennell, Thorpe, Whitfield.