TWO hot Super League prospects are to return to York City Knights in a notable boost on the eve of the season.

Prop Nathan Massey and back-row John Davies are to re-join the club from Castleford, the former on dual-registration forms and the latter on a season-long loan, and, given the injuries in the squad, the pair could go straight into the 17 that go to Championship rivals Barrow for Sunday’s Northern Rail Cup opener.

Their recruitment comes at a particularly good time given forwards Nathan Freer, Matt Barron and Rhys Clarke are injured – and that captain Alex Benson, the frontline prop, is also now in danger of missing a couple of Northern Rail group games after being charged by the Rugby Football League video panel over an alleged late, high tackle in the friendly against St Helens. His hearing is next week, so he can still face Barrow.

The Knights have also lost centre Mike Mitchell for the first month of the season for personal reasons.

Massey, 21, the Tigers’ 2007 academy player of the year, had a loan spell at York, as well as Featherstone, in 2008 and won a full-time contract for 2009.

He earned a spell in the senior side that year but, following injury, was loaned to Gateshead, then of the Championship. He was on dual-contract with Keighley last year but suffered a season-ending injury after just one game.

The Press understands Harlequins had wanted to take him on loan but Cas preferred he came to York.

Davies, 20 last month, is a former England Schoolboy who made an impressive Super League debut in 2010 at Catalans. He had been on dual-registration with York but made only one substitute appearance as he was wanted as back-up for the Tigers’ first team. He shone in Cas’ two friendlies against York last month.

The terms of the dual-registration mean the Tigers have first option each week on playing Massey, while Davies could get recalled at any time after the first month.

Knights boss Dave Woods, however, hoped both of them could have productive spells at Huntington Stadium. Both will continue to train full-time at Castleford and join up with York later in the week.

Woods, who had a teenage Massey under him during his time as Cas coach in 2005, said: “They will be good for us.

“We’re a bit light in the forwards. We knew we needed a back-rower and, with Matty Barron getting injured (at Gateshead last Sunday) and Nath Freer struggling with his hamstring, while Rhys Clarke is still a couple of weeks away, it's a boost for us to get them in.

“It also sends a message to the other blokes that they need to make sure they perform otherwise they won’t get a spot.

“They (Massey and Davies) are in the same boat – if they’re not performing they won’t be playing. It all adds competition for places and that’s what you want.”

Woods reckoned the two newcomers could make the Super League grade in the future.

“I think John is probably a year away but he’s definitely got the ability,” he said. “Nathan has played a couple of games already and without the injury he had he probably would’ve been in Cas’ top squad now, but the props they’ve brought in have sneaked ahead of him.”

Meanwhile, Mitchell, one of the stars of the Championship One Grand Final triumph, is expected back at training by early March.

He had asked for time off to work on his new house and has missed the last few weeks of pre-season.

Woods added: “It’s part-time footy and you’ve got to respect the players, and getting his home sorted is important. He knows he’ll have to go through the reserves to get back in and he’s prepared for that.”

Winger Dennis Tuffour missed Wednesday’s friendly against Leeds Under-20s as he was still ill.