NEW York City Knights skipper Pat Smith will not be involved as Ireland kick off their European Championship campaign - but fellow York-born ace Ben Johnston is poised to play.

Smith, who a week ago was named the Knights' club captain for 2015 after it was confirmed he and brother Ed were staying at the club, was selected for the Wolfhounds' original 29-man train-on squad but has not made the cut for their clash against France at Tallaght Stadium, Dublin, on Saturday.

As reported, club-mate Colton Roche had to withdraw from the squad due to work commitments outside of rugby.

Smith's fellow half-back Johnston, though, is in the 20-man match-day party. The former York Acorn ARLC junior, who had a good loan spell with the Knights in 2003, has impressed for Halifax in the Kingstone Press Championship this year.

Ireland coach Mark Aston - who coached Smith at Sheffield Eagles and may yet play him against Scotland and Wales - has named 12 uncapped players in his 20-man party, including St Helens full-back Shannon McDonnell and four domestic players in Casey Dunne, Graham O’Keeffe, Michael Russell and Wayne Kelly.

The side will be led out by Leigh’s Bob Beswick, who will match Liam Finn’s record of 19 caps for the Wolfhounds. Ex-Knights Luke Ambler and Sean Hesketh are set to be involved.

The French - coached by ex-Knights, Hull and Wakefield boss Richard Agar, who is joining Warrington as first-team coach next season - start as favourites in the competition, the winners of which will secure a place in the 2016 Four Nations and the 2017 World Cup.

But Aston said: "We are looking forward to facing them on Saturday. It is always a tough fixture.

“We will be hoping to get the championship off to a good start.”