YORK Wasps will have to watch out for growling Glen when they visit Batley Bulldogs in a New Year's Day showdown on Monday.

Experienced scrum-half Glen Tomlinson is back in the Bulldog brigade, having re-signed for his old club at the start of season after Super League stints at Bradford, Hull and Wakefield.

The 30-year-old Aussie was an old favourite at Mount Pleasant and became one of coach Jon Sharp's many close-season signings, seven of which feature in a new-look first 13.

Although the Aussie playmaker has yet to hit top form this term, he has been cited as one to watch by York coach Lee Crooks.

"Three seasons with Bradford will have stood him in good stead," said the Wasps' chief ahead of the Northern Ford Premiership clash, now put back to its original New Year's Day 3pm kick off after a frost-bound pitch meant it could not be played tomorrow as scheduled.

"He's not the quickest round the paddock, but he's a talented player and has a good kicking game. He will direct them."

In the absence of the injured Gareth Stephens, Wasps' trialist Gareth Oulton, who started the Boxing Day draw with Hunslet, will play opposite Tomlinson on Monday.

"Gareth (Oulton) has got talent and can be a bonus to the squad but he's got some bad habits picked up from the amateur game," said Crooks, issuing a challenge to the former Lock Lane scrum-half.

"We've had to play him earlier than we would have liked, and he's having to learn quicker than we had planned."

Crooks has been boosted by the return of Gareth Lloyd, who missed the Hunslet match with a shoulder injury. However, Shaun Austerfield is still out with a non-rugby related injury, and the Wasps' chief was waiting until after training sessions today and tomorrow to name his starting 13.

"We've been unable to train this week because of the frost, but the extra day before the game gives us more time to prepare," he added.

Batley, just one place above York in the table, go into the game hoping to bounce back from their derby defeat at Dewsbury on Boxing Day.

That 24-12 reversal came a week after their loss to high-riding Doncaster, who secured the points with a couple of late tries. The Bulldogs have also lost to Sheffield, but convincingly beat Gateshead Thunder, who had defeated the Wasps in a pre-season friendly two weeks earlier.

Batley stand-off and main goal-kicker Richard Price, who has been out with Achilles trouble, is expected to return. If he doesn't, Richard Dyson will retain kicking duties. Larger doubts remain over centre Jamie Coventry, who was concussed in the Dewsbury clash, and prop Chris McWilliam (dead leg).

New Year's Day squads

Batley Bulldogs: from Craig Lingard, Jeremy Dyson, Danny Maun, Davide Longo, Paul Gledhill, Simon Jackson, Glen Tomlinson, Jeff Wittenberg, Andy Heptinstall, Andy Richardson, Paul Hicks, Gary Shillabeer, Ryan Horsley, Jamie Coventry, Andy Wray, Will Cartledge, Craig Richards, Richard Price, Chris McWilliam.

York Wasps: from Jamie Benn, Chris Allen, Paul Butterfield, Craig Moore, Leroy McKenzie, Paddy Handley, Gareth Oulton, Mick Hagan, Gareth Dobson, Craig Forsyth, Darren Hughes, Michael Smith, Mick Ramsden, Tim Rumford, Matt Mulholland, Alan Pallister, Gareth Lloyd, Adam Briggs.