BATTERED York Wasps face their biggest test so far in the Northern Ford Premiership as they make the long trip to Workington Town tomorrow with only 17 fit players.

After a relatively injury-free campaign Dean Robinson's squad was decimated against Swinton Lions last week and the Wasps coach knows he will be riding his luck in Cumbria tomorrow.

Any more injuries could leave him facing a player crisis going into the tough Easter programme.

He will be keeping his fingers crossed the play-off chasing Wasps escape from Derwent Park unscathed and with another two points in the bag.

In addition to the suspended Andy Preston, four players are ruled out with injuries sustained in the rousing 16-15 win over Swinton.

Chris Hopcutt could be out for the season after undergoing surgery to repair damaged knee tendons; Mick Ramsden faces at least two or three weeks on the sidelines, also with a knee injury; Leigh Deakin still does not have full movement of his head after damaging neck muscles in a tackle, and Craig Booth is missing with a back injury.

The good news is that Lea Tichener's twisted ankle is not as bad as first thought and Peter Edwards has recovered from an arm problem.

Robinson inquired about bringing in players on loan to bolster the squad but admitted "there is very little about."

So he must rely on the 17 available as Wasps look to end Workington's unbeaten home record.

In a new-look starting line-up, John Strange switches to full-back, Jamie Benn moves on to the wing, Richard Goddard returns in the centre and Mick Crane comes in at scrum half.

Alan Pallister is restored to the hooking role, Tichener starts a game for the first time this season in the front row while Paul Darley is installed at loose forward following his successful comeback when coming off the bench last week.

Darren Callaghan drops back to the bench alongside Mike Hagan, Edwards and Andy Precious.

Town player-coach Andy Platt is putting together a useful side at Derwent Park, particularly in the pack, but Robinson is confident York's ball-playing skills will be enough to see them through.

He said: "Like all the Cumbrian sides they are a very big outfit. They have plenty of home grown talent and Andy Platt has added a wealth of experience.

"I expect their tactics to be simple and straightforward and that's to dominate from start to finish using their big forwards. It's paramount we don't get sucked into a physical battle down the middle and that we play the rugby we're capable of."

Under the leadership of former Wigan and Salford ace Platt, Workington are almost unrecognisable from the side which finished second from bottom of last season's second division.

The Wasps did the double over the Cumbrians, the 20-15 victory at Derwent Park coming courtesy of a late try by Mark Cain.

Platt now lines up in the front row with ex-Whitehaven man Colin Armstrong, while the experienced Paul Forber is in the second row.

Also in the squad are forward Simon Knox, signed from Bradford Bulls in the close-season; ex-London Broncos and Newcastle Knights centre Evan Cochrane; former BARLA player of the year Mike Dempsey at scrum half with another ex-Whitehaven man, Mark Wallace, on the wing.

Cochrane and skipper Barry Williams will undergo fitness tests before the game. Cochrane injured his back in last week's win over Bramley and second row Williams went off with a knee problem.

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