YORK City Knights are hoping for good news from the treatment table to avoid a front row crisis.

The Knights, who have previously said they want to add another prop to the squad, have already lost David Bates for the start of the season as he will be away on honeymoon - a trip that was arranged before he signed for the club.

And last night fellow front-rowers Adam Sullivan and Craig Forsyth suffered injuries in the friendly loss away to Hull. Former Hull KR star Sullivan took a bang to a shoulder while veteran Forsyth suffered sternum damage.

Boss Mick Cook was hopeful both would be fit for the season's opener away to Castleford on February 13 - but if not he will be left with just one out-and-out prop forward, Yusuf Sozi, for the big kick-off, though John Smith can also move up from second-row like he did last night.

Forsyth's knock is thought to be the more serious at first look though both he and Sullivan will have to wait for a detailed diagnosis.

Cook said: "We're not going to panic. We've got the doctor looking at it and the physio will keep an eye on things. As always they'll both be assessed a day after the knocks... but I don't envisage either being long-term.

"I would like to think both will be back for Castleford."

Updated: 10:43 Thursday, January 27, 2005