RICHARD Agar has seen his York City Knights squad considerably depleted less than three weeks into the new season - with Danny Seal and Rob Kama now ruled out for some time.

However, he remains confident there is enough strength in depth to cover these latest losses.

Loose-forward Seal has had a job promotion which means he will be unavailable for up to eight weeks, while winger Kama suffered rib cartilage damage against Villeneuve on Sunday and will be out for a month.

Furthermore, Scott Rhodes is rated only 50-50 to play in Sunday's Arriva Trains Cup match at Gateshead after suffering a bang to his back.

Agar has already lost Rich Hayes to retirement, while fellow prop Craig Forsyth was banned for one game and fined £50 by the disciplinary committee last night following his sending-off against Batley ten days ago.

In better news, winger Chris Smith is nearing full fitness following his closed season operation and could be available this weekend.

Agar has already said the Knights are in the market for a prop to cover Hayes' departure - he only has Yusuf Sozi and second-row converts John Smith and Simon Friend available for the front row this weekend - but reckons the other positions are well covered.

"It's a blow we've lost Danny Seal," he admitted.

"It's not something we saw coming and you can't legislate for it. I can understand it and I can sympathise that it's been a tough decision for him, but I'm still disappointed to lose him for eight weeks.

"But we can compensate for it and it gives one or two others the chance to make the shirt their own.

"We have no plans to fetch in more cover and when Danny comes back he's going to have to prove himself again and earn his shirt back."

As for Kama, he said: "It's worse than broken ribs and we're looking at about a month.

"It's a blow but Scott Walker was unlucky to lose out in the first place and he could drop in there, and Chris Smith is coming back."

Meanwhile, Agar had hoped Forsyth's sending-off was sufficient, but nevertheless he accepted the ban.

"We probably thought we had a chance taking into account what we saw on the video," he explained.

"He has a good record and they found he was not the aggressor, and what the referee and touch judge reported did not tie in exactly with what we saw on tape, but he was guilty of fighting and they felt he needed the minimum suspension. We will accept it and get on with it."

He added: "We feel we've got to replace Rich Hayes and we're hoping to get someone in, but there are not too many front-rowers available at the moment.

"Other than that, I feel we're adequately covered at this stage for what's ahead."

The kick-off at Gateshead this Sunday has been changed to 3pm from 3.30pm.

Meanwhile, the kick off for the Knights' Challenge Cup fourth round tie at Sheffield Eagles on Sunday, February 29 has been confirmed as 3.15pm.

Tickets cost £10 adults, £7 concessions, £5 juniors.

Updated: 10:51 Wednesday, February 11, 2004