YORK City Knights are unlikely to be panicked into signing a new prop despite seeing Dan Briggs suffer a hamstring injury in Friday night's win over Featherstone.

The club's search for a front-rower became more important after loan ranger Ryan Benjefield, himself a temporary replacement for the retired Rich Hayes, returned to Super League side Hull before the Easter weekend, and their need for more firepower became more evident after Briggs was ruled out of today's LHF National League Two opener at home to Chorley (ko 3pm).

However, the club were hopeful Briggs would not be missing for long, possibly even being available for next Sunday's visit of Hunslet Hawks, and coach Richard Agar today said there would be no rush to supplement the current front line of Yusuf Sozi, Craig Forsyth, Andy Burland and the returning Joe Helme.

"We need a prop regardless (of Briggs' injury)," he told the Evening Press. "We will continue looking but there's no point bringing someone in for the sake of it. We will wait for the right person."

The Knights are also hopeful that former St Helens winger Chris Smith could be fit either next week or for the Arriva Trains Cup quarter-final play-off the following week.

The 28-year-old, who missed the second half of last season after suffering major knee ligament damage, endured another knee problem in only his third game back, away to Sheffield in the Challenge Cup, and, although he has not needed new surgery, he has taken longer than expected to return.

Agar added: "Chris is close but not close enough (for today's game). It's possible he'll be knocking on the door next week. We'll see how it goes during the week and give it that bit more time."

The draw for the ATC play-off takes place on Wednesday night, with Barrow, Doncaster, Oldham, Keighley and Featherstone in the hat alongside York.

The Knights have been installed as seventh-favourites to lift the trophy, with odds of 28-1 offered by bet365.com. The favourites are Leigh Centurions at 2-1 on.

The Knights, meanwhile, were clear favourites to win NL2 ahead of today's league opener, with bet365.com offering odds of 2-1 on. Hunslet were second-favourites (5-1.

Last year's table-toppers Sheffield, who defeated London Skolars 24-18 in their league opener on Friday, third-favourites (11-2).

Updated: 10:20 Monday, April 12, 2004