YORK Wasps' ace Ben Sorbello has issued a hands-off warning to new team-mate Jamie Benn.

Sorbello goes into tomorrow's vital clash with Swinton Lions as occupant of the number one shirt and is determined to keep hold of it despite the imminent return to Huntington Stadium of Benn.

Goal-kicking king Benn, who has re-signed for Wasps but has not been considered for tomorrow's match, shone in that full-back role in his previous spells with the club. But 31-year-old Sorbello is in no mood to give up his place.

"At the moment he's going to have to fight for my position," Sorbello told the Evening Press.

"If I'm playing good they won't drop me. If I don't perform then I will probably get dropped, but I want to stay in the team."

However, he said his new-found rivalry with Benn - who can also play on the wing - would be a friendly one, with the good of the team at the forefront.

"Where we play and who plays is up to the coach, but my preferred position is full-back," he said.

"I don't know much about (Benn) as a player but if he's an asset to the team then that's all good and well."

French-born Sorbello, who moved to Australia as a child, made his name in 'A' grade rugby in Sydney with the top team, Moore Park, as well as the likes of Coogee Wombats, Charing Cross and South Sydney.

He then moved back to France with Avignon.

But after a dispute with the Elite One outfit following a successful season with the club, he signed for Wasps.

He made his debut in the debacle at Barrow when he was forced to play out of position because of injuries but enjoyed an excellent outing at full-back in the narrow defeat to Batley last time out.

"I was pretty happy with my game at full-back although my attack could be better," he said.

"But everyone is still starting to know each other. Once we sort out who's who and where's where, things will click into place.

"It's a good standard of football here. In France the game is a bit slower often because the referees can't keep up.

"Over in France you can lay-on a bit and, instead of punishing you, the ref says thanks for helping him catch up."

Wasps coach Leo Epifania was himself a full-back and Sorbello was keen to learn from his fellow Aussie. "He's probably the best coach I've played under," he said.

"It's not just me who says that but the likes of Carl Hall, even with his experience, would tell you he's an excellent coach. He's good for the younger boys who can learn a lot."

Epifania was planning to use the same 17 tomorrow as that which was on duty for the Hunslet postponement, with the Wasps' other new signing, winger Neil Bennett, joining Benn on the sidelines.

"The two of them are in training but they haven't got enough sessions under their belts to be considered just yet," said Epifania.

"They're pretty much match-fit because they've been playing anyway and hopefully by the following game they will come into consideration."

Second row Darren Crake misses out because of a knee injury which would also have ruled him out of the Hunslet game.

Epifania added: "We've just transferred what we were going to do against Hunslet on to this game against Swinton. We're after improvement every week but we have to start putting points on the board."

Wasps are likely to hold a pitch inspection tomorrow morning if there is any frost or adverse weather overnight.

York Wasps: Sorbello, Mulholland, Austerfield, Hall, Molloy, Liddell, Cain, Precious, Edwards, Docherty, Deakin, Ramsden, Lee. Subs: Barrow, Kirke, Hutchinson, Waite.

Updated: 11:25 Monday, December 31, 2001