Lee Crooks will tonight gain his first indication of how York Wasps will perform when the Northern Ford Premiership gets underway next month.

Every fit player will get a run-out as the Wasps kick-off their pre-season campaign against Hunslet Hawks at Huntington Stadium (7.30pm).

That will mean York debuts for nine newcomers, with new assistant coach Frank Punchard and physio Pat Howdle also making their first appearances.

The Wasps boss stressed the 13 which start tonight's game will not necessarily be the same for the season's opener against Doncaster Dragons on December 3.

Instead he has rewarded those players who have regularly attended pre-season training and last weekend's trip to Bridlington.

The likes of Jamie Benn, Gareth Dobson and new signing from Hunslet, Darren Hughes, are therefore on the bench.

Crooks said: "I've explained to people like Gareth and Darren, who will play important roles in the squad, that the lads that have trained predominantly from the outset and went on the weekend away deserve to have the first bite of the cherry.

"Some of the lads who are on the bench are regulars as well but you have to start from somewhere."

Crooks accepted that some players had so far been unable to attend regularly because of work commitments.

Tonight's starting line-up features four new faces. Chris Allen and Paul Butterfield, both signed from Castleford Tigers, will form a three-quarter partnership on the right side with Paddy Handley and Gareth Stephens in the half-back slots.

Youngster Matt Mulholland, who played a couple of games towards the end of last season, is at full-back, while the more familiar faces of Gareth Lloyd and Leroy McKenzie are on the left side.

Wasps: Mulholland, Allen, Butterfield, Lloyd, Mckenzie, Handley, Stephens, Forsyth, Pallister, Precious, Hill, Smith, Hargrave. Subs: Hagan, Benn, Dobson, Hughes, Briggs, Pincher, Moore, Baxter.

* There was a healthy turn-out at last night's Wasps fans' forum when all the new players were introduced to the supporters.

* Welsh winger Max Ryce will not be turning out for York Wasps this season after returning home.

The youngster attended some pre-season training sessions but has now gone back to Wales after failing to settle.