YORK Wasps will be aiming to show just how far they have come this season when they take on fourth in the table Doncaster Dragons at Belle Vue tonight (7.30).

Wasps kicked off the current campaign being humbled 36-1 at Huntington Stadium by the Dragons, coached by former York player St John Ellis, and they will want to show they are a more competitive outfit in the return.

However, stand-in coach Dean Thomas, who has taken the first team reins while coach Garry Atkins is away in America getting married, has had to face an injury nightmare this week that has left his planning to the final minute.

Full-back Darren Callaghan and Australian centre Andrew Lambert are both counted out of tonight's trip due to knocks taken in last weekend's narrow 28-22 defeat by table-toppers Leigh Centurions.

They will be replaced by Kevin Gray and John McCracken in the starting line-up, but there are also doubts over stand-off Mark Cain, who was shaken by a couple of high shots against Leigh, and second row forward Andy Hill, and both were facing late fitness checks.

"It is just something that we have got to cope with," said Thomas.

"Garry and myself were pleased with the way that we performed against Leigh and, while the injuries have not left us with the options we would have liked, I still think that we can pull something out and win this one.

"The players are beginning to take on board a few new ideas that we have brought in since Garry took over as coach and that has developed quite well, though being afforded a chance to have consistency in selection would help."

However, it will be a tall order against a Dragons side that ran in 15 tries as they demolished Lancashire Lynx 82-4 at Belle Vue last weekend, including touchdowns from ex-Wasps Fata Sini and Peter Edwards.

Dragons coach Ellis would appear to have an embarrassment of riches as he was able to leave a trio of former Super League players - Basil Richards, Aaa Amone and Carl Gillespie - on the bench for the clash with the Lynx, but while he is happy with competition for places Ellis is finding it hard to keep all his squad involved.

"Because we are not running an Alliance side it does mean that the lads are hungry to play when they go out," said Ellis.

"If they are not in the team they don't get a game, which is good because it makes them very competitive when it comes to getting a place in the side.

"But it does tie us down to having game related training sessions almost every time just to ensure those who aren't in the side are at match fitness."

Ellis is expecting a harder test than on the opening day of the season and has been impressed by what has been achieved by coach Garry Atkins since taking the Wasps' reins.

"We know that York is not going to be an easy game and that we will have to go about our business in a very professional manner," said Ellis.

"They are much improved under Garry, who I know very well as we played together at both York and Castleford, and he has given them a good platform to work from, so we will not be taking anything for granted."

York Wasps (from): Gray, Woodcock, Preston, McCracken, Ryce, Cain, Dobson, Hagan, Pallister, S Hill, Judge, A Hill, Precious, Robinson, Darley, Forsyth.

Doncaster Dragons (from): Stott, Booth, Hall, Bunyan, Sini, Weston, Tawhai, Coult, Morgan, Edwards, Berry, Wilson, Miller, Carter, Amone, Richards, Gillespie.