YORK City Knights Ladies travel to Leeds Rhinos tomorrow with a much-depleted squad and a stack of rookies thrown in at the deep end - but coach Daryl North is hoping they surprise a few people.

The Knights, without a win in the Women's Super League, are expected to suffer a heavy defeat at Weetwood (2pm), especially with no fewer than 10 players out, including the majority of their first-choice forward pack.

But North has always said this maiden season in the elite tier would be a learning curve, and a posse of new faces are set to benefit from such lessons this weekend.

"We've got 10 players out and a good half-dozen are heavy players for us. We're really light in the forwards," said North.

"There will be a number of girls in there who haven't played Super League before and who will have to give it a go.

"It could be a good thing. They'll get experience of this level. Also, as we've seen in various sports, when you throw people in at the deep end they sometimes surprise you.

"These girls eventually will be good enough - they'll just have to start a step up a little bit early."