Lee Crooks will experiment with positional changes as York Wasps' pre-season build-up gathers momentum at Featherstone Rovers tonight.

Gareth Lloyd switches from centre to second row, Michael Smith from second row to prop and new signing Paul Butterfield from the centre to the wing for the Lionheart Stadium showdown.

They are just three of several changes from the side which lost to Hunslet Hawks 8-0 at Huntington Stadium last Friday.

Only six players retain their places in the starting line-up as coach Crooks takes the opportunity to weigh up all his options.

"The lads that started on the bench last week will start the game this week. I've reversed the roles a bit," said Crooks, who has cut the squad down from 21 to 18.

Gareth Stephens and Chris Allen are missing with a hamstring strain and cut eyelid respectively while young forward Adam Briggs and triallist three-quarters Richie Baxter and Nathan Pincher have been left out.

In come Gareth Oulton and Tim Rum-ford, both signed from amateur club Lock Lane in midweek. Rumford, who faces a National Conference League disciplinary hearing after being sent off for punching while playing for Lock Lane last Saturday, starts on the right wing in place of Allen. Oulton replaces Stephens at scrum-half.

Full-back Jamie Benn and hooker Gareth Dobson are both recalled to the starting line-up at the expense of Matt Mulhol-land and Alan Pallister, who are on the bench.

The game marks an early return to his former stomping ground for Wasps stand-off Paddy Handley. The 25-year-old was signed from Featherstone in the close season after three years with the West Yorkshire club.

Former Wasps skipper Paul Darley, signed by Featherstone from York during the summer, will also come up against his old team-mates, as will Craig Booth who has re-signed for Rovers.

York: Benn, Rumford, Moore, Hughes, Butterfield, Handley, Oulton, Smith, Dobson, Hagan, Lloyd, Hill, Hargrave. Subs: Pallister, Precious, Forsyth, Mul-holland, McKenzie.