GARY THORNTON was leaving it late to decide his line-up to take on amateurs Blackbrook as he waits on last-minute fitness checks – and works out how many young guns he can safely throw into the mix.

Thornton’s York City Knights will be massive favourites in tomorrow’s Tetley’s Challenge Cup third round tie at Langtree Park, the home of Blackbrook’s Super League neighbours St Helens (3pm). As such, under-20s starlets Tyler Craig, Greg Minikin and Harry Carter are getting a look-in.

However, the head coach has warned ties like these can be “horrible” no-win affairs, drawing on one particular past experience while boss at Batley which showed passage to round four isn’t always straightforward.

“I don’t want to go into this game with too many young kids. Blackbrook will be fired up for it, no doubt about it, and they will be very physical,” said Thornton.

“I’ve been in these scenarios and they’re not easy games. I was at Batley in 2009 when we played Pilkington Recs. We won it 34-24 but it was a nightmare of a game. It was a tough encounter, and that was played at St Helens as well.

“I know a bit about Blackbrook. Mark Lee, their coach, played at Salford and will have them well-drilled and well-organised. They’ve got two or three pushing for the BARLA squad and they’ve got plenty of good players.

“This will be their cup final and they’ll be really enthusiastic. They will be looking to turn us over and have a good day in front of their own crowd. I have a few options, but there are plenty of pitfalls for us.”

Much depends on whether organiser-in-chief Simon Brown overcomes laryngitis, and if George Elliott, who has had a hernia injury, can return to action in place of winger Nat Browne, who is out with the ankle injury picked up during the last-second loss at Barrow on Easter Monday.

Tom Carr could fill in at stand-off if Brown – who has been laid low all week after struggling through at Barrow – is sidelined, opening up another gap in the back line, with Ben Dent next in the queue.

However, Thornton says in-form full-back Carr and young hooker Kriss Brining are also due a rest, hence the inclusion of Minikin and Carter – both of whom are yet to feature this season – in a provisional 22-man squad.

Their U20s colleague, Craig, who enjoyed a cameo role against Featherstone on Good Friday, will almost certainly feature, probably in an already inexperienced back row comprising 19-year-old Ed Smith and former Milford amateur Jack Pickles, 21.

Brining scored tries against Featherstone and Barrow over Easter but has been struggling with a neck complaint.

Thornton mused: “It would be a perfect game for Harry to come in for Kriss, with his pace from dummy-half.

“The games are coming thick and fast. Tom Carr has played every minute of every game, including the friendlies, so it would have been ideal to give him a rest, but we’ll see. I don’t want to put five or six kids in there.”

Thornton is optimistic his team will be no less enthusiastic following the cruel loss at Barrow.

“We weren’t great on Monday, but the last time we played poorly, at Keighley, we came back with a win over Featherstone,” he said.

“We’ve got to make sure we’re not flat. The boys were disappointed after Monday but we’re dying to put it right. It’s a big, wide, open field and a great stadium so there’s no better opportunity to bounce back.”

Knights: from Carr, Haynes, Elliott, Latus, Ford, Dent, Minikin, Brown, Presley, Aldous, Lee, Potter, Smith, Pickles, Craig, Brining, Carter, Sullivan, Stenchion, Iley, Freer, Bell.

Referee: Peter Brooke (Warrington). Kick-off: 3pm.